THAILAND WIN A THRILLING CONTEST TO BEAT NETHERLANDS BY EIGHT RUNS

 

Thailand Women won the second ODI of the four-match series against Netherlands played at Royal Chiang Mai by eight runs as they fought back strongly after looking set for defeat against a Netherlands team who were much improved after a heavy defeat in the first match. Thailand take a 2-0 lead in the series with plenty of good cricket still to come.

 

Thailand were looking to build on their impressive batting performance in the first ODI when they reached 243 for 9 in 50 overs and Natthakan Chantham hit a magnificent century. They won the toss and chose to bat first and all was going to plan as the openers hit 68 from the first 12 overs. Sornnarin Tippoch was then out for 19 with Nattakhan Chantham going well and looking to add another big score.

 

She had made 42 from 65 balls with four fours and a six when she was caught by Iris Zwilling off the bowling of off-spinner Eva Lynch with Thailand still well-placed on 88 for 2 in the 19th over and the hundred soon came up with only two wickets down. 

 

Eva Lynch was bowling well and she dismissed captain Naruemol Chaiwai for just 5 and when Nannapat Khoncharoenkai was out for 23 the main Thailand batting was back in the dressing room and the middle-order who had supported Chantham well in the first match would have to make the runs by themselves.

 

This did not happen as well as Thailand would have wished as only Suleeporn Laomi and Rosenanee Kanoh reached double figures in the second part of the home side’s innings and the Netherlands spinners claimed most of the wickets.

Off-spinner Eva Lynch claimed the best figures with 4 for 33 while leg-spinner Caroline de Langer took 2 for for 30 as both completed fine 10 over spells. Opening bowler Iris Zwilling supported the spinners well with 2 for 33 as she took the last wicket to bowl out Thailand for a modest total of 176 in 41.1 overs. The home side should be disappointed to collapse from 68 for 0 and 101 for 2 especially as the total was boosted by 47 extras which was more than top-scorer Natthakan Chantham’s 42.

 

Netherlands faced a target of 177 in 50 overs and their innings followed a similar pattern as Thailand’s had with their openers Babette de Leede and Sterre Kalis giving them the perfect start as they reached 41 in the first 10 overs and 73 from 20 overs but the breakthrough finally came with the score on 80 in the 22nd over. de Leede was caught by Rosenanee Kanoh from the bowling of Onnicha Kampchomphu for 37 from 68 balls with 3 fours.

 

Wickets quickly followed as players new to the crease struggled against the Thailand spinners but Sterre Kalis looked in command and reached her 50 from 84 balls by hitting her fifth boundary but the crucial moment of the match looked to have come when she was run out for 54 as she attempted a second run. Netherlands were 114 for 5 with 63 runs still to make. Five wickets had fallen for 34 runs.

 

Iris Zwilling and Ferederique Overdijk again turned the tables as they put together a sixth wicket partnership of 40 but Suleeporn Laomi broke the partnership by bowling Zwilling and Eva Lymch fell next ball. Netherlands were now 154 for 7. Overdijk still went for her shots but was out for 28 with the score on 161 for 8.

 

Laomi suddenly bowled a few loose balls and was hit for a boundary and gave away two wides but then had de Lange caught and bowled for a duck and Netherlands were dismissed for 168 from 46.1 overs when Sornnarin Tippoch took the last wicket.

 

The spinners kept the pressure on even while the Netherlands openers were batting so well and the wickets eventually came after they had finally made that initial breakthrough. Suleeporn Laomi took 3 for 43, Onnicha Kamchamphu 2 for 22 from her full 10 overs and Sornnarin Tippoch 2 for 17. So near and yet so far for Netherlands.

 

A very exciting finish and Thailand had won by 8 runs as they took the last five wickets for 14 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the series. Natthakan Chantham was again named player of the match for her 42 and two catches.