Pakistan Survive Thailand Scare as Sana Rescues Rain-Reduced Thriller

Two-time gold medalists Pakistan expected a routine passage into the Women’s Asian Games semi-finals. Thailand had other ideas. What unfolded was a rain-reduced contest that swung violently, tested Pakistan’s composure and required their captain to rescue them once again.

Pakistan eventually chased 92 in 11 overs with three wickets in hand, but only after a collapse of 4 for 11 threatened to derail the chase entirely. The match had started nearly two hours late because of a wet outfield, and the reduced powerplay of 3.2 overs immediately altered the tempo of the contest. Pakistan chose to bowl, and Thailand seized the advantage.

Koncharoenkai Anchors Thailand

Fatima Sana removed the experienced Natthakan Chantham inside the shortened powerplay, but Thailand’s No. 3, Nannapat Koncharoenkai, took control. She found boundaries all around the park and accelerated after the sixth over, striking back-to-back fours off Umm-e-Hani in a 14-run over. Captain Naruemol Chaiwai offered support with some big hits at the other end.

Koncharoenkai moved towards her fifty with a reverse-lap off Sana in the final over, but she fell on 49 off 38, trapped right in front by a full delivery. She went back and across, missed, and Thailand’s innings closed at 91 for 4. Sana finished with 2 for 22.

Pakistan’s Chase Stumbles

Shawaal Zulfiqar gave Pakistan a cracking start, striking three fours and a six in the first three overs. Then Thailand fought back with four wickets in the space of 14 balls for just 11 runs. Zulfiqar handed a return catch to offspinner Onnicha Kamchomphu. Ayesha Zafar fell for 1. Gull Feroza stepped out against Kamchomphu and was stumped for 16. Aliya Riaz was also caught off the same bowler.

Pakistan were 47 for 4, needing 45 runs from 30 balls. Kamchomphu finished with 3 for 37, while Chaturongrattana claimed 2 for 23.

Sana Turns the Tide

The equation became 44 from 24 balls before Sana intervened. She went down on her right knee and smoked 4, 4 and 6 on the leg side, then went down the ground where she was dropped by a diving long-off fielder, a reprieve that also fetched her a boundary. Eyman Fatima ended the over with another six off the middle of the bat. The 25-run over tilted the scales, leaving Pakistan 19 to get from 18.

The chase remained far from straightforward. Sana holed out at the start of the next over, which yielded just three runs, making the equation 16 from 12. Eyman Fatima then handed a catch in the 10th over, and Pakistan needed 15 from 10. Tuba Hassan struck a six and a four off consecutive balls to leave Pakistan four runs away with seven balls remaining. Hassan was caught at fine leg at the end of the 10th over, but Eman Naseer and Umm-e-Hani took four risk-free singles off the next four balls to avoid any further stutters.

Sana and Tuba Hassan scored a combined 34 runs off 20 balls, a contribution that proved decisive in a match where wickets fell at regular intervals and Thailand’s hopes remained alive until the last over.

Pakistan will now face the winner of Malaysia versus Sri Lanka in the semi-final on September 20.

Brief scores: Pakistan 92 for 7 in 11 overs (Zulfiqar 25, Kamchomphu 3-37, Chaturongrattana 2-23) beat Thailand 91 for 4 in 11 overs (Koncharoenkai 49, Sana 2-22) by three wickets.

                                               

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