Thailand 120 for 3 (Chantam 60, Koncharoenkai 28, Suttiruang 28*) lost to Bangladesh 124 for 8 off 20 overs (Sultana 38, Khatun 28*, Islam 21, Padunglerd 3-14) by 2 wickets.
In their first meeting since the final of ICC Women’s World T20 Qualifier in Scotland, Bangladesh beat Thailand by 2 wickets in a last-ball thriller at the Women’s T20 Quadrangular Series in Patna.
Both sides came into the match in the running for a final spot, having beaten India A. Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field.
Thailand lost vice-captain Nattaya Boochatham in the first over, but Nattakan Chantam picked up where she left off against India A to score a fluent run-a-ball 60 laced with 4 fours and 2 sixes. Wicket-keeper batswoman Nannapat Koncharoenkai scored a busy 28 off 37 balls, and at 69-1 off 14.4, the stage was set for a big total against a steady, but less-than-lethal Bangladeshi attack.
A flourish from Chantam and star all-rounder Chanida Suttiruang saw 50 runs scored off the last five overs for the loss of only one more wicket and Thailand finished on 120-3, almost double what they scored against Bangladesh in Scotland.
Bangladesh started well, losing only one wicket in the powerplay. Although Thailand’s quartet of slow bowlers – sans leg-spinner Suleeporn Laomi, who is injured – kept the run rate well in check, by the start of the 17th over, Bangladesh needed 30 runs with 8 wickets in hand.
A combination of tight bowling and razor-sharp fielding precipitated a collapse which saw Bangladesh fall from 91-2 in 16.1 overs to 107-7 in the space of twelve balls. The game was now in the balance.
14 off 9.
9 off 4.
9 off 3.
Fahima Khatun on strike.
19.4 – FOUR
19.5 – FOUR.
1 off 1
19.6 – FOUR.
Bangladesh snuck home courtesy of some remarkable hitting under pressure from Khatun, and will play India B in the final.
This was a competitive performance from an ever-improving Thailand side against their South-Asian Test playing neighbours. They will have another shot at the Bangladeshis on 16 February when the two sides meet in an official WC Warm Up game at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field.
In the interim, Thailand will take on India B in the 3rd/4th place play off on 22 January 2020 before heading back to Bangkok. They arrive in Brisbane on Wednesday 4 February to begin their World Cup adventure.
