- Sunday, March 09, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
Shafali Verma’s knock of 42 followed by Deepti Sharma’s three-wicket haul guided India to a 74 runs win over Thailand in the semifinal of the ongoing Women’s Asia Cup 2022 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet, Bangladesh, on Thursday (13).
With the win, India have made their eighth final in the tournament and the six-time champions will play the winners of the second semi-final, featuring Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which will also be played on Thursday.
The final will be played at the same venue on Saturday (15).
Thailand, who were bowled out for a paltry 37 against India in the league stage, won the toss and sent Harmanpreet Kaur’s side to bat first. Opener Verma top scored with 42 while Kaur made 36 and Jemima Rodrigues chipped in with 27. Pooja Vastrakar’s little cameo of 17 not out towards the end helped India register a total of 148 for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs.
For Thailand, right-arm off-break bowler Sornnarin Tipochh was the most successful bowler with three wickets for 24 runs in four overs.
Thailand’s chase was in shambles right from the beginning as they lost wickets in a heap to reel at 21 for 4 in the eighth over. Captain Naruemol Chaiwai and Nattaya Boochatham scored 21 each to add 42 runs for the fifth wicket but it was only a matter of time before Thailand’s agony ended. They ended up with 74 runs for the loss of nine wickets.
India’s opening bowlers Deepti Sharma and Rajeshwari Gayakwad took three (for seven runs) and two wickets (for 10 runs), respectively.
Thailand, however, finished with their best show at the women’s Asia Cup this year in which they also beat Pakistan.
Brief scores: India 148/6 (Shafali Verma 42, Harmanpreet Kaur 36; Sornnarin Tippoch 3-24) beat Thailand 74/9 (Naruemol Chaiwai 21, Nattaya Boochatham 21; Deepti Sharma 3-7) by 74 runs.
