Muneeba Ali’s half-century and Sadia Iqbal’s three-wicket haul headlined Pakistan’s 35-run victory over Thailand within the Group A encounter of the Asia Cup in Dubai. Pakistan posted 119 for 9 earlier than proscribing Thailand to 84 for 8 to get their marketing campaign off to a successful begin.
Pakistan made a sluggish begin after opting to bat, dropping Shawaal Zulfiqar and Gull Feroza to Thipatcha Putthawong inside the primary two overs. Ayesha Zafar briefly countered with a few boundaries earlier than falling for 9 as Pakistan ended the Powerplay at 32/3. Muneeba Ali then steadied the innings with Sadaf Shamas, each getting common boundaries to take Pakistan to 60/3 on the midway stage of the innings.
The fourth wicket pair added 54 earlier than Suleeporn Laomi struck twice within the thirteenth over, eradicating Shamas for 20 and Pakistan captain Fatima Sana for a duck. Muneeba introduced up a 45-ball fifty however was ultimately stumped for 54 within the seventeenth over, as Laomi completed with wonderful figures of three for 14. Thailand saved taking wickets, however Pakistan discovered some momentum late within the innings, with Umm-e-Hani’s 17 and Tuba Hassan’s 12 taking them near 120.
Thailand’s chase acquired off to a disastrous begin as Sadia Iqbal struck twice in her first over, bowling Phannita Maya for 4 earlier than having Nannapat Koncharoenkai caught for a duck to finish a double-wicket maiden. Nattakan Chantam and Naruemol Chaiwai struggled to attain freely, managing solely 22 runs within the Powerplay regardless of hitting a few boundaries. Pakistan continued to maintain issues tight after the sector unfold, with Nashra Sandhu additionally bagging the wicket of Chantam, leaving Thailand at 33/3 after 10 overs.
Skipper Chaiwai’s laboured innings – 17 off 33 – ended when she fell to Tuba within the thirteenth over. With the required fee climbing, Aphisara Suwanchonrathi and Chanida Sutthiruang tried to get a partnership going however the former grew to become Tuba’s second sufferer, leaving Thailand at 65/5 within the seventeenth over. When Naomi Hamilton was dismissed by Ayesha, Thailand wanted 50 off 15. They did not come wherever shut, struggling their second loss in three matches.
Transient scores: Pakistan 119/9 in 20 overs (Muneeba Ali 54 off 52, Sadaf Shamas 20 off 20; Suleeporn Laomi 3-14, Thipatcha Putthawong 3-18) beat Thailand 84/8 in 20 overs (Chanida Sutthiruang 25 off 24, Naruemol Chaiwai 17 off 33; Sadia Iqbal 3-11, Tuba Hassan 2-17) by 35 runs.
