Shafali Verma scored 64 before India’s bowlers dismissed Thailand for 65 in their Group A match in Dubai.
DUBAI:
India defeated Thailand by 94 runs in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup on Sunday after restricting their Group A opponents to 65 in 16.1 overs at the Dubai International Stadium.
India posted 159 for nine after Thailand elected to field. Shafali Verma led the innings with 64 from 36 deliveries, hitting eight fours and three sixes. Debutant Pratika Rawal scored 22 from 18 balls, while Kranti Gaud’s unbeaten 15 helped India recover after a late collapse.
India had reached 108 for two before losing seven wickets for 29 runs and slipping to 137 for nine. Thailand’s Suleeporn Laomi returned figures of four for 26.
The Indian bowlers then dominated Thailand’s chase. Nandni Sharma took three wickets, while Deepti Sharma’s dismissal of Nannaphat Chaihan took her to 170 wickets in women’s T20 internationals.
Deepti drew level with Thailand’s Thipatcha Putthawong as the joint-highest wicket-taker in the format at the conclusion of the match. Thailand’s Nannapat Koncharoenkai offered resistance with 41 but received little support from the rest of the batting order.
The victory gave India a strong start to their Asia Cup campaign and a substantial net-run-rate advantage in the group stage.
