With a 22-run victory over Malaysia to start their Asia Cup campaign, Thailand overcame a 68-run opening stand and a fifty from Wan Julia. Thailand chose to bat and was aided to score 133/6 by Nannapat Koncharoenkai’s 40 and Phannita Maya’s 29. Although Malaysia had a strong start to their reply, they were finally reduced to just 111/8 due to fast wickets in the second half of their innings.
The difference: Malaysian middle order let-down
Despite a cautious innings from captain Winifred Duraisingam, Malaysia appeared to be on track at one point in the chase after the openers had combined 68 runs in 11 overs. But in just a few overs, Thailand took control of the game as they took early wickets and managed the run rate, increasing the pressure. Despite reaching fifty, Julia was losing partners on a frequent basis on the other end, and her ejection was ultimately caused by the lack of support, as Thailand rallied to win the match.
THAILAND
Powerplay: Thailand positive despite early wickets
Phase score – 44/2 [RR: 7.33, 4s/6s: 8/0]
The opening over saw three fours from Nattaya Boochatham off Ainna Hamizah Hashim, which set the tone for Thailand’s powerplay batting.
Even though the first two batsmen, Nannaphat Chaihan and Boochatham, fell in the next overs—the latter hitting four boundaries in her 10-ball 18—Thailand made sure they were ahead in the first six overs. After five overs, Thailand was up 41/2 thanks to two fours from Nannapat Koncharoenkai off Suabika Manivannan and another four from Aisya Eleesa. Thailand maintained a strong scoring rate on the powerplay to establish a strong foundation, despite Duraisingam giving up just three runs in the sixth over.
Middle overs: Ismail’s strikes keep Thailand in check
Phase score – 51/3 [RR: 5.66, 4s/6s: 6/0]
Malaysia was able to contain Thailand in the middle overs thanks in large part to Ismail’s spell. Ismail took Thipatcha Putthawong’s wicket in the seventh over of her spell, giving up just two runs.
Phannita Maya also hit a few fours, helping Thailand reach the nineties, while Koncharoenkai was finding the limitations on the other end. At the end of the 14th over, Koncharoenkai smashed another four off Ismail, and the offspinner responded by taking the wickets of Koncharoenkai (40) and Chanida Sutthiruang, bringing Thailand to 95/5. Thailand passed 100 in the following over thanks to Maya’s four leg-bye boundaries.
Death overs: Thailand post challenging total
Phase score – 29/1 [RR: 5.8, 4s/6s: 1/0]
Thailand’s bowling resources were limited, as seen by the fact that half their team had returned to the hut before the death overs. Moreover, their chances of finishing with a respectable total were further hampered by Maya’s departure off Duraisingam. Ismail concluded her stint with 3 for 16, and Aisya Eleesa bowled tightly for the final two overs.
Suwanan Khiaoto and Rosenan Kanoh, however, made sure they did not play too many dots by consistently taking singles and twos. Kanoh’s four off Duraisingam aided Thailand’s cause, as they finished with a total of more than 130 to give their bowlers something to work with.
MALAYSIA
Powerplay: Steady start by Malaysia openers
Phase score – 36/0 [RR: 6.0, 4s/6s: 5/0]
wan Duraisingam hit a boundary and Julia smashed three fours in the opening three overs. As opposed to Thailand’s aggressive beginning, the Malaysian openers were a little more cautious, as just 18 runs—including a maiden by Nattaya Boochatham—came off the opening four overs. In the sixth over, Maya was hit for a boundary by both Julia and Duraisingam, with the former also getting lucky when she was taken down at backward point.
Middle overs: Thailand apply pressure with wickets
Phase score – 55/3 [RR: 6.11, 4s/6s: 6/0]
With sporadic boundaries, the Malaysian openers rotated the strike without much urgency. As a result, Malaysia was at 59/0 at the midway point. Thailand was able to sneak in a few quiet overs, but this also caused the scoring rate to slow down.
When Julia was put down in the middle of Onnicha Kamchomphu’s over, she received another reprieve. Before Thailand finally took a wicket, Duraisingam was dismissed by Kamchomphu, bringing the opening partnership to 68. Julia smashed a four against Suleeporn Laomi, while Elsa Hunter claimed a boundary in the same over.
However, Thailand quickly removed some of Malaysia’s cushion from them when Laomi removed Hunter and Thipatcha Putthawong caught Ismail in front. With five overs remaining, Malaysia only needed 43 runs after Ainna Hamizah Hashim hit a crucial boundary off Laomi.
Death overs: Regular wickets leave Malaysia well short
Phase score – 20/5 [RR: 4.0, 4s/6s: 0/0]
With Malaysia under pressure to score at a rate of more than eight runs per over, Hashim was run out after Julia’s call had come too late. This resulted in a wicket for Malaysia. In the sixteenth over, just five runs were scored, and the needed rate increased to 9.5. Even though Julia reached a fifty runs-per-ball score, the rate increased to 11.33 after Laomi’s 17th over yielded just four runs. Even worse, Malaysia lost Jamahidaya Intan to Kamchomphu in the eighteenth over, compounded by Julia’s run out. Malaysia was well short of the finish line as Chanida Sutthiruang and Boochatham shared the wickets in the final two overs.
India
