Muniba Ali and Sadia Iqbal’s three-wicket half-centuries headlined Pakistan’s 35-run win over Thailand in the Asia Cup Group I encounter in Dubai. Pakistan scored 119 for 9 before restricting Thailand to 84 for 8 to get their campaign off to a winning start.
Pakistan got off to a slow start after opting to bat, losing Shawal Zulfiqar and Gul Firoza to Thibacha Bothawong in the first two overs. Aisha Zafar was briefly blocked with a boundary before falling to 9 as Pakistan ended the Powerplay at 32/3. Muniba Ali then stabilized the innings with Sadaf Shamas, both of whom got regular boundaries to take Pakistan to 60/3 at the midway point of the innings.
The fourth wicket pair added 54 before Soliporn Laomi scored twice in the 13th over, removing Chamas for 20 and Pakistan captain Fatima Sana for a duck. Muniba brought up a 45-ball fifty but eventually faltered with 54 in the 17th over, as Laomi finished with excellent figures of 3 for 14. Thailand continued to take wickets, but Pakistan found some momentum late in the innings, with Um Hani’s 17 and Toba Hasan’s 12 coming close to 120.
Thailand’s chase got off to a disastrous start with Sadia Iqbal scoring twice in her first over, bowling Vanita Maya for 4 before Nanapat Kuncharoenkai was caught for a duck to complete the first double wicket. Nattakan Chantam and Naruemol Chaiwai struggled to score freely, managing just 22 runs in the Powerplay despite hitting a few boundaries. Pakistan continued to keep things tight after the pitch spread, with Nashara Sandhu also packing Shantam’s wicket, leaving Thailand at 33/3 after 10 overs.
Skipper Chaiwai’s arduous innings – 17 off 33 – came to an end when she fell to Toba in the 13th over. With the required rate high, Aphisara Suwanchonrathi and Chanida Sutthiruang attempted to continue the partnership but the former became Tupa’s second victim, leaving Thailand at 65/5 in the 17th over. When Aisha dismissed Naomi Hamilton, Thailand needed 50 off 15. They got no closer, suffering their second loss in three matches.
Abbreviated degrees: Pakistan 119/9 in 20 overs (Muniba Ali 54 off 52, Sadaf Shammas 20 off 20; Soliporn Laomi 3-14, Thipacha Buthawong 3-18) beat Thailand 84/8 in 20 overs (Shanida Suthiruang 25 off 24, Narwemol Chaiwai 17 off 33; Sadia Iqbal). (3-11, Toba Hassan 2-17) by 35 points.
