Nepal’s unbeaten run in the ACC Women’s Twenty20 Championship came to an end when Thailand bowled brilliantly for a 23-run win to top the group table.
Thailand bowled out Nepal for 57 in 15.1 overs to defend their total of 80/9 – thanks to player of the match Thanapan Saisud who took 4/8.
Both teams have already proceed to the semifinals and the loss means Nepal now meets Hong Kong – the strongest looking team in the tournament – on Friday. Thailand plays either China or Malaysia.
Thailand won the toss and elected to bat first on the overcast condition at the Kinrara Oval. Thai opener Pundarika Prathanmitr top-scored in the innings with 24 off 21 balls. She began by hitting two fours off Sonu Khadka’s first over.
When she was out Thailand were 29/1 in 6 overs. No other Thai women batted well, but a few runs from everyone and a large number of wides by Nepali bowlers took them to 80/9 in 20 overs – with 9 runs coming off the last over.
Former captain Nary Thapa followed up her five-wicket haul with 3/9 while Ritu Kanaujiya, Rekha Rawal, Rubina Chhetri and Sonu each picked a wicket. Two batswomen were run-out.
Nepal’s reply, Maya Rawat went out in second over and Nepal was left struggling at 26/3 in 7 overs. Nary Thapa (6) and Rashmi Sharma (2) were back by then.
Captain Ritu Kanaujiya had a 21-run partnership with Neera Rajopadhyay to bring back Nepal into track and their innings put the team in the winning position of 47/3 in 11 overs.
But Nepal lost last 7 wickets for 10 runs in 25 balls and lost the match. Neera, the innings topscorer, got 16 while skipper got 14. No other Nepali women got double-figure. For Thailand, Saisud grabbed four wickets while Nantanit Khonchan took two.