Inspirational Captain Esha Oza Named ICC Women’s Associate Cricketer of the Year
The ICC Women’s Associate Cricketer of the Year award has been presented to the all-action captain of the United Arab Emirates, Esha Oza.
Women’s Associate – ICC Awards Website
Oza was a dominant force in her team’s performances throughout 2024, accumulating a mountain of runs at the top of the order and contributing significantly with the ball, taking crucial wickets with her off-breaks.
She began the year in spectacular fashion, leading the UAE to victory in the Asian Cricket Council Women’s Premier Cup. Oza finished as the leading scorer of the tournament and was named Player of the Tournament.
The classy right-hander also played a pivotal role in the UAE’s run to the knockout stages of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier later in the year.
Oza’s brilliant 66* from 39 balls was a key factor in the UAE’s victory over the Netherlands in the qualifier, securing the team a top-two spot in a competitive Group B.
She came close to pulling off a miraculous upset in the semi-finals, smashing a defiant 66 from 44 balls against eventual tournament winners Sri Lanka, as the UAE fell just short of a historic win in Abu Dhabi.
ICC Awards 2024: Every Winner Announced So Far
Esha Oza Wins Women’s Associate Cricketer of the Year | ICC Awards 2024
Esha Oza’s Record in 2024:
- 711 runs and 16 wickets in 20 T20I matches
Oza was a consistent performer with the ball throughout 2024, taking 16 wickets at an average of 19.68 and maintaining an impressive economy rate of 5.41.
However, it was with the bat that she truly shone on the international stage in 2024. Only two players scored more runs than Oza’s 711 in the calendar year: Sri Lankan sensation Chamari Athapaththu (720) and India’s Smriti Mandhana (763).
Oza was exceptionally consistent, scoring in double figures in all but one of her 20 innings, including one century and four half-centuries. Her 711 runs came at an average of 41.82, and she maintained a strike rate of 111.79.
Memorable Performance
Oza was named Player of the Match in the final of the Asian Cricket Council Women’s Premier Cup against Malaysia. However, her standout performance of the tournament came earlier, when she demolished Oman.
Opening the batting, Oza scored an extraordinary century, hitting 16 boundaries and finishing unbeaten on 114* from just 69 balls, leading her team to a formidable total of 176/1. She also contributed with the ball, taking 1/4 in her two overs as the UAE raced to a massive 148-run victory.
This century marked Oza’s third in international cricket and stood out as the top score in what was a run-heavy 2024.
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