Women’s Asia Cup 2024: Malaysia vs Thailand – Wan Julia’s Knock Goes Subdued As Thailand Beat Malaysia Convincingly

Thailand defeated Malaysia by 22 runs to start their Asia Cup campaign, overcoming a 68-run opening stand and a fifty from Wan Julia. After choosing to bat, Nannapat Koncharoenkai scored 40 and Phannita Maya scored 29 to help Thailand score 133/6. Malaysia’s reply got off to an impressive start, but they were finally reduced to just 111/8 after taking early wickets in the subsequent half of their innings.

At one point in the chase, Malaysia was in the lead when the openers put on 68 runs in 11 overs, even after captain Winifred Duraisingam played a cautious innings. However, Thailand quickly gained the upper hand as they controlled the score and quickly took wickets, increasing the pressure. Even though Julia reached the fifty mark, she was frequently lost partners on the opposite end, and the lack of encouragement ultimately resulted in her termination as well, as Thailand rallied to win the match.

The tempo for Thailand’s batting in the powerplay was established by Nattaya Boochatham’s three fours against Ainna Hamizah Hashim in the opening over. Thailand made sure they stayed ahead in the first six overs even though the openers, Nannaphat Chaihan and Boochatham, fell in consecutive overs, the latter hitting four boundaries in her 10-ball 18.

After five overs, Nannapat Koncharoenkai helped Thailand reach 41/2 thanks to two fours off Suabika Manivannan and another four off Aisya Eleesa. Thailand scored well on the powerplay, even though Duraisingam gave up just three runs in the sixth over, providing a strong foundation.

Izzati Mahirah In the middle overs, Malaysia was able to contain Thailand thanks in large part to Ismail’s spell. Ismail took the wicket of Thipatcha Putthawong in the eighth over of her spell, surrendering just two runs. At the other end, Koncharoenkai was identifying boundaries, and Phannita Maya also contributed with a few fours, propelling Thailand into the nineties.

Before the offspinner retaliated by getting rid of Koncharoenkai (40) and Chanida Sutthiruang, Thailand was reduced to 95/5 at the end of the 14th over. Koncharoenkai had also hit a four off Ismail. In the following over, Maya’s four leg-bye boundaries helped Thailand score above 100.

Thailand’s batting resources were restricted, with half their squad back in the hut before the death overs. Their chances of finishing with a respectable total were further complicated by Maya’s departure off Duraisingam’s bowling. Aisya Eleesa bowled two tight overs in her last overs, while Ismail concluded her spell with figures of 3 for 16.

Thailand concluded with a total of 130 runs or more to give their bowlers enough to work with, but Suwanan Khiaoto and Rosenan Kanoh made sure they did not play too many dots by taking the singles and twos on a regular basis. Kanoh’s four off Duraisingam helped Thailand’s cause.

Wan within the first three overs, hit three fours and Duraisingam smacked a boundary. However, the Malaysian openers were a little more cautious than Thailand, as just 18 runs, including a maiden from Nattaya Boochatham, came off the first four overs. In the sixth over, Julia and Duraisingam each hit a boundary off Maya; the former also had a fortunate break when she was put down at backward point.

The Malaysian openers rotated the strike with the sporadic boundary, showing no signs of urgency. As a result, the pace of scoring also decreased, allowing Thailand to sneak in a few quiet overs and put Malaysia at 59/0 at the midway. While everything was going on, Julia received another reprieve when she was put down in the middle of Onnicha Kamchomphu’s over. After the opening partnership reached 68, Duraisingam was dismissed by Kamchomphu to give Thailand their first wicket.

Elsa Hunter reached a boundary and Julia struck a four off Suleeporn Laomi in the same over. However, Thailand put considerable pressure on Malaysia with two fast wickets: Thipatcha Putthawong trapped Ismail up front after Laomi removed Hunter. After Ainna Hamizah Hashim hit a crucial boundary off Laomi, Malaysia just needed 43 runs to win the final five overs.

The onus was on Malaysia to score at a rate of more than eight per over, and they got one when Hashim was run out after he had already arrived too late to answer Julia’s call. The 16th over yielded just five runs, with a needed rate of 9.5. Julia continued to post a run-a-ball fifty, but the pace increased to 11.33 when Laomi’s 17th over yielded just four runs.

The situation worsened for Malaysia after Julia was run out in the 18th over, as they also lost Jamahidaya Intan to Kamchomphu. In the final two overs, Chanida Sutthiruang and Boochatham shared wickets, but Malaysia was well short of the finish line.

Brief Score: Malaysia vs Thailand – Match 3 of Asia Cup 2024

Thailand 133 for 6 (Koncharoenkai 40, Maya 29, Ismail 3-16) beat Malaysia 111 for 8 (Julia 52, Kamchomphu 2-20) by 22 runs.

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