A very positive Thai side full of confidence, showed how much they've improved in the past twelve months to beat a capable Singapore side on the opening day of the ACC Women's Twenty20 Tournament.
Thailand's Pundarika Prathanmir hit a four off the first ball and then played the shot of the day as early as the fourth ball a back-foot drive through mid-off timed sweeter than a ripe mango. On a super-fast outfield any ball beating the infield went all the way.
Sonnarin Tippoch more cautious and more correct than in her previous outing for Thailand in the inaugural ACC Women's Tournament in 2007 but she still took advantage of anything loose, every single leg side full toss smacked to the mid-wicket boundary.
Singapore fielded well. Tanya Sen with her wicket to wicket slow-medium pacers bowled very well, just 3 runs and a leg-bye from her first three overs. "That kind of bowling is what is most effective at this level," said Mohideen Kader the Cricket Association of Thailand CEO who was watching from the sidelines.
Naruemol Chaiwai batted well for her 19 (28 balls, 2 fours) before being well stumped by Priyanjali Jain off Lakshimi Hariharan. 80 was their target on going in to bat but at 61 for 1 at the half-way point, it looked they would sail past that.
That they didn't was credit to some good Singapore bowling and the inability of the Thais to improvise and work the ball around the ground. From the 10th to the 17th over there was only one boundary for Thailand.
Singapore's slickness in the field was demonstrated by their captain's running-out of her opposite number in the final over followed by another three balls later. Thailand did manage 25 off their last five overs to take them to exactly 100 and set Singapore a challenging target.
"We should be able to defend 100," said Parn Poshyanonda, a CAT visitor. Singapore's captain Diviya G K was likewise confident of chasing 100, "we've got the batters." She was due to come into bat as the closer. "It's a must win game for us," said Diviya.
Thailand have a strong and varied bowling attack. Nattaya Boochatham's dismissal of Priyanjali Jain first-ball. Three overs later Nathakan Chantham struck from the Mines End.
Naruemol Chawai took a super catch close in, one-handed diving forward at silly mid-on to get rid of Annapurna Mukherjee and Singapore's first-ball of the over curse continued – three in a row falling that way. It looked like Diviya would have a lot to do when she came in. She came in with two wickets falling in two balls in the 10th over, one of them to an excellent catch by Maneerat Bevacqua at fine leg. Singapore were 38-5 at the half-way stage, needing 63 off the last 10 to win.
With Rajeshwari Pasupathy and Diviya at the wicket, the hitter and the grafter, Singapore still had hope.
For all their good work in the field, Thailand did drop four catches, Pasupathy being the beneficiary three times. Pasupathy hit the tournament's first six, a massive one soaring over mid-off and Singapore took 15 off the 16th over to give themselves a chance. 32 were needed off the last four overs but they just didn't have enough support for Pasupathy who, eventually fell for 24 (24 balls, 1 four, 1 six).
Thailand came back strongly in the field and the bowlers held their nerve at the death. "Our girls really came back well, our bowling was pretty good and I'm impressed with our girls," said the losing captain. Singapore will probably need to change their batting order if they're to maximize their potential.
As for Thailand, "We came to do well, we've done well, we can do even better," said their coach Tithi Kader.
ACC Women's Twenty20 Championship 2009
Singapore v Thailand at Selangor Turf Club
THAILAND WON BY 11 RUNS
Thailand won the toss and chose to bat
Thailand: 100 for 5 off 20 overs (L.Hariharan 2-19)
Singapore: 89 off 19.5 overs (S.Kosathong 3-24)
Player of the Match: Sonnarin Tippoch (Thailand)
For all the latest scores go to www.asiancricket.org
Thailand's Pundarika Prathanmir hit a four off the first ball and then played the shot of the day as early as the fourth ball a back-foot drive through mid-off timed sweeter than a ripe mango. On a super-fast outfield any ball beating the infield went all the way.
Sonnarin Tippoch more cautious and more correct than in her previous outing for Thailand in the inaugural ACC Women's Tournament in 2007 but she still took advantage of anything loose, every single leg side full toss smacked to the mid-wicket boundary.
Singapore fielded well. Tanya Sen with her wicket to wicket slow-medium pacers bowled very well, just 3 runs and a leg-bye from her first three overs. "That kind of bowling is what is most effective at this level," said Mohideen Kader the Cricket Association of Thailand CEO who was watching from the sidelines.
Naruemol Chaiwai batted well for her 19 (28 balls, 2 fours) before being well stumped by Priyanjali Jain off Lakshimi Hariharan. 80 was their target on going in to bat but at 61 for 1 at the half-way point, it looked they would sail past that.
That they didn't was credit to some good Singapore bowling and the inability of the Thais to improvise and work the ball around the ground. From the 10th to the 17th over there was only one boundary for Thailand.
Singapore's slickness in the field was demonstrated by their captain's running-out of her opposite number in the final over followed by another three balls later. Thailand did manage 25 off their last five overs to take them to exactly 100 and set Singapore a challenging target.
"We should be able to defend 100," said Parn Poshyanonda, a CAT visitor. Singapore's captain Diviya G K was likewise confident of chasing 100, "we've got the batters." She was due to come into bat as the closer. "It's a must win game for us," said Diviya.
Thailand have a strong and varied bowling attack. Nattaya Boochatham's dismissal of Priyanjali Jain first-ball. Three overs later Nathakan Chantham struck from the Mines End.
Naruemol Chawai took a super catch close in, one-handed diving forward at silly mid-on to get rid of Annapurna Mukherjee and Singapore's first-ball of the over curse continued – three in a row falling that way. It looked like Diviya would have a lot to do when she came in. She came in with two wickets falling in two balls in the 10th over, one of them to an excellent catch by Maneerat Bevacqua at fine leg. Singapore were 38-5 at the half-way stage, needing 63 off the last 10 to win.
With Rajeshwari Pasupathy and Diviya at the wicket, the hitter and the grafter, Singapore still had hope.
For all their good work in the field, Thailand did drop four catches, Pasupathy being the beneficiary three times. Pasupathy hit the tournament's first six, a massive one soaring over mid-off and Singapore took 15 off the 16th over to give themselves a chance. 32 were needed off the last four overs but they just didn't have enough support for Pasupathy who, eventually fell for 24 (24 balls, 1 four, 1 six).
Thailand came back strongly in the field and the bowlers held their nerve at the death. "Our girls really came back well, our bowling was pretty good and I'm impressed with our girls," said the losing captain. Singapore will probably need to change their batting order if they're to maximize their potential.
As for Thailand, "We came to do well, we've done well, we can do even better," said their coach Tithi Kader.
ACC Women's Twenty20 Championship 2009
Singapore v Thailand at Selangor Turf Club
THAILAND WON BY 11 RUNS
Thailand won the toss and chose to bat
Thailand: 100 for 5 off 20 overs (L.Hariharan 2-19)
Singapore: 89 off 19.5 overs (S.Kosathong 3-24)
Player of the Match: Sonnarin Tippoch (Thailand)
For all the latest scores go to www.asiancricket.org
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