Players shake hands after the toss.

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 14: Kuwait Women began their Gulf Cricket Women’s T20I Championship 2025-26 campaign with a commanding 68-run victory over Qatar Women in the tournament opener at the Al-Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman. Electing to bat first, Kuwait posted an imposing 160 for 5 in their 20 overs, setting the tone for a dominant performance.

The star of the match was Zeefa Jilani, who spectacularly marked her debut. Jilani anchored the innings with a brilliant 71 off 54 balls, smashing five fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 131.48. Her confident stroke play gave Kuwait momentum through the middle overs, and crucial partnerships ensured the side maintained a strong scoring tempo.

Supporting contributions came from Priyada Murali (21) and Sabreen Zaki (34), but it was Jilani’s innings that stood out as the backbone of Kuwait’s total. The hosts were able to repeatedly rebuild after minor setbacks, ultimately posting a challenging target for Qatar.

In reply, Qatar struggled to find form against disciplined Kuwait bowling. The visitors were dismissed for 92 in 16.2 overs, never able to build substantial partnerships. Jilani continued her fine all-round performance by claiming 2 for 8 in her bowling spell, applying pressure at key moments and stemming Qatar’s chase.

Kuwait’s bowlers complemented their batters with tight lines and consistent pressure, restricting Qatar’s batting depth and forcing regular dismissals. The early dismissals in the power play proved costly for the chase, leaving Qatar always playing catch-up.

For her outstanding all-round display with both bat and ball, Zeefa Jilani was deservedly named Player of the Match, spearheading Kuwait’s dominant start to the championship.