Thailand’s women cricketers spent most of the morning in wet and soggy Arbroath looking anxiously up at the sky as they waited for the rain to stop and for conditions to improve on the first day of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier held in Scotland. Thailand were facing Netherlands who they have beaten regularly in recent competitions and the Thai girls were desperate to get onto the field. Thankfully, there was time enough to play a nine-over match and Thailand dominated from the start after winning the toss and electing to bat first.
Openers Nattakan Chantam and Naruemol Chaiwai shared an unbroken stand of 76 as Nattakan hit five fours and a six in her innings of 44* form 32 balls. The match was virtually decided by the end of Chanida Sutthiruang’s new ball spell as she was almost unplayable as she bowled booming in-swingers. Chanida dismissed Netherlands’ star player Sterre Kallis with her second ball and finished with 3 for five in her 2 overs. Netherlands were restricted to 46 for 5 in their 9 overs and Thailand were victorious by 30 runs as Chanida was named player of the match.
In the other match in Thailand’s group, Ireland comfortably overcame Namibia by seven wickets, but the two matches in Group A played in Dundee were badly affected by the weather. Bangladesh’s contest against PNG was abandoned without a ball bowled, while Scotland beat USA by 30 runs in a match reduced to seven overs aside.
Thailand face Namibia in their second match on Sunday morning and another victory could put the Thais into the semi-finals. Play is due to start at 10 am local time and the match will be live streamed on the ICC website.
