Day 5: Women’s Asia Cup Heads For An Exciting Finish
Day 4: India Maintain Unbeaten Record As Cricket Ties Resume With Pakistan
November 29, 2016Thailand’s charismatic captain Sornnarin Tippoch, at the Asian Games
December 1, 2016
Day five of the ACC Women’s Asia Cup T20 saw convincing wins for Pakistan and Sri Lanka which means that these two teams will do battle with India to see which countries will finish in the top two places in the league table.
If India beat Sri Lanka on Thursday they will qualify for the final with four wins out of four but if Sri Lanka win the two finalists may be decided on net run-rate with the real possibility of three teams level on eight points.
Bangladesh faced Pakistan in the first match of the day and they have never beaten Pakistan in an official Women’s Twenty20 International although they had done well to score 113 for 9 in 20 overs during the World Twenty20 in India earlier this year.
The gulf in class between the two teams seems to be growing as Pakistan have been involved in the ICC Women’s Championship which has given them regular cricket against strong opposition while Bangladesh’s opportunities have been more limited.
Bangladesh themselves had been far too strong for Nepal the previous day when they had scored 133 for 4 but they could not repeat that batting performance against better opposition as they were bowled out for 44 in 15.3 overs. Bangladesh chose to bat first but Ainam Anwar took two early wickets and Sana Mir made sure there was no revival with figures of 3 for 5.
Ayesha Zafar was lbw to Khadija for 2 but it was the only wicket lost by Pakistan as they gained their third win of the competition to join India on six points. Pakistan needed just 9.5 overs to reach 45 and achieve victory by nine wickets as Javeria Khan made an unbeaten 26.
If India beat Sri Lanka on Thursday they will qualify for the final with four wins out of four but if Sri Lanka win the two finalists may be decided on net run-rate with the real possibility of three teams level on eight points.
Bangladesh faced Pakistan in the first match of the day and they have never beaten Pakistan in an official Women’s Twenty20 International although they had done well to score 113 for 9 in 20 overs during the World Twenty20 in India earlier this year.
The gulf in class between the two teams seems to be growing as Pakistan have been involved in the ICC Women’s Championship which has given them regular cricket against strong opposition while Bangladesh’s opportunities have been more limited.
Bangladesh themselves had been far too strong for Nepal the previous day when they had scored 133 for 4 but they could not repeat that batting performance against better opposition as they were bowled out for 44 in 15.3 overs. Bangladesh chose to bat first but Ainam Anwar took two early wickets and Sana Mir made sure there was no revival with figures of 3 for 5.
Ayesha Zafar was lbw to Khadija for 2 but it was the only wicket lost by Pakistan as they gained their third win of the competition to join India on six points. Pakistan needed just 9.5 overs to reach 45 and achieve victory by nine wickets as Javeria Khan made an unbeaten 26.
India and Pakistan have looked impressive during the tournament but Sri Lanka will still have their say in the final outcome and they faced Thailand in the second match of the day. Sri Lanka have often been generous hosts to Thailand cricket in recent years and the Sri Lankan Navy side has been particularly supportive, so the home side were hoping to repay that support by giving a good account of themselves in the afternoon match.
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first and Thailand’s opening bowlers Chanida Sutthiruang and Nattaya Boochatham were not able to take the early wickets they had managed against Bangladesh. Thailand were generous in the field as captain Sornnarin Tippoch dropped a skier and a wicket was taken from a no ball, and various run out chances were missed.
Sri Lanka’s openers Hasini Perera and Chamari Atapattu reached 49 by the end of the first 10 overs which proved the perfect platform for acceleration. Sornnarin bowled her four overs for 17 but leg-spinner Suleeporn Laomi was held back perhaps because both openers were left-handed.
Sixth bowler Sainnamin Saenya eventually claimed a wicket with the score on 77 as Atapattu was caught on the mid-wicket boundary for 31. Sri Lankan captain Perera reached her fifty from 53 balls as the hundred came up with three overs of the innings left. Min claimed her second wicket as Atapattu fell lbw for 55 but her side were well on the way to a big score.
Thailand kept going well in the field and Min was rewarded for her spirited performance by taking three wickets but a total of 120 for 6 still looked a commanding one.
The Thai girls were hoping to make a good impression with the bat as they had done against India but they did not make a good start as both openers were out in the first over as Sirintra was caught at cover and Nattakan played on. Nattaya was also bowled and Udeshikha Prabodini claimed her third wicket as Ratanaporn was caught at mid-wicket. Thailand were in trouble at 10 for 4 in the seventh over as Prabodini finished with 3 for 8.
The home side were 20 for 5 after 10 overs and at least Chanida hit a pair of boundaries to become the first batter to reach double figures but this was a not a batting performance of which Thailand could be proud.
Left-arm spinner Indika Ranaweera took the next three wickets in quick succession as she returned figures of 3 for 4 in her four overs and Sri Lanka recorded a convincing victory by 75 runs although Thailand managed to bat out their overs to reach 45 for 9.
Tomorrow’s matches will see Thailand face Nepal in the morning and India take on Sri Lanka in the afternoon which should both be much more even contests.
