Pakistan wome reach Asian Games cricket semis after edging out Thailand

Pakistan registered a three-wicket win with two balls to spare over Thailand in a hard-fought second quarter-final of the Asian Games Women’s Cricket competition on Thursday at the Korogi Athletic Park.

The match was reduced to an 11-over contest after rain delayed the scheduled start. Thailand had set a 92-run target after Pakistan asked them to bat first.

Thailand’s no.3 batter Nannapat Koncharoenkai top-scored with a 38-ball 49 for her team striking seven fours after Fatima Sana struck on the second ball of her opening over – the second over of the innings – to remove Natthakan Chantham for six.

Koncharoenkai stitched a second-wicket stand of 65-run stand with Phannita Maya (15, 16b, 1x4) as Pakistan’s bowling was tested. The partnership ended when Thailand called back Phannita Maya as a tactical move. Skipper Naruemol Chaiwai struck a six and a four in her three-ball 10.

Fatima denied Koncharoenkai half-century by pinning her leg-before in the last over to end up with figures of two for 22 in three overs.

In turn, Pakistan’s opening duo of Shawaal Zulfiqar (25, 14b, 3x4s, 1x6) and Gull Feroza (16, 13b, 1x4) set the tone for the chase with a brisk 36-run opening stand in 3.5 overs with former being the chief aggressor.

Thailand then struck back by taking four wickets for 11 runs in a space of 13 balls as Pakistan ended the powerplay with 47-4. Skipper Fatima, who walked out to bat at no.4 just for the second time in her T20I career, provided much-needed impetus to the chase by hitting three fours and one six in her 13-ball stay at the crease, which yielded 21 runs.

All of Fatima’s four boundaries came in the eighth over on first four balls against Onnicha Kamchomphu, while Eyman Fatima finished the over with a six as Pakistan stringed together 25 runs off six balls. With 19 needed off 18 balls, Thailand again staged a fightback by removing Fatima, in ninth and Eyman Fatima and Tuba Hassan both in 10th over.

Tuba (13, 7b, 1x4, 1x6) played a superb hand as she hit a six and a four in the penultimate over to bring the 16 needed of 12 equation down to four required off six balls. Umm-e-Hani and Eman Naseer took four singles off as many balls with the former hitting the winning run to take Pakistan across the line.

The two semi-finals will be played on Sunday, 20 September at the same venue.

Scores in brief

Asian Games women’s cricket event - Quarter-Final 2 – 11-over match – Pakistan beat Thailand by three wickets at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Perfecture

Thailand 91-4, 11 overs (Nannapat Koncharoenkai 49; Fatima Sana 2-22)

Pakistan 92-7, 10.4 overs (Shawaal Zulfiqar 25, Fatima Sana 21; Onnicha Kamchomphu 3-37, Sunida Chaturongrattana 2-23)

Pakistan women at Asian Games (All matches at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture)

17 September - Quarter-final 4 – Pakistan beat Thailand by three wickets

20 September – Semi-final 1 & 2

22 September - Bronze and Gold Medal matches