Thailand and China are the front-runners in the ACC Women’s Premier which is being held in Chiang Mai after Thailand defeated Hong Kong by six wickets at Gymkhana and China beat Bhutan by 36 runs at Prem.
The home side had started well as Chanida Sutthiruang, gaining considerable swing with the new ball, took three early wickets but Hong Kong did well to recover from a position of 56 for 6 as Ishitaa Gidwani scored 23 before Ho Hung Ying and Chan Ya Ying added 31 for the ninth wicket.
Hong Kong were eventually bowled out for 122 in 37.1 overs as Sainammin Saenya took the last wicket with her very first ball but it meant Thailand had a more difficult target than they had expected. Opening bowlers Mariko Hill and Clare Crewdson bowled impressively with the new ball and each claimed a wicket as openers Naruemol Chaiwai and Narumon Srisuwan were quickly dismissed.
Nattaya Boochatham was impeccable in defence and Pundarika Prathanmitr unleashed a wide range of attacking shots as the pair added 72 for the third wicket. Nattaya waited patiently for the right moment to play some lovely drives but Pundarika eventually fell to Mariko Hill for 41. Thailand’s fourth wicket was lost when only two runs were needed as Nattaya was finally dismissed for 32 after batting for more than two hours.
Chanida Sutthiruang hit the winning run to take Thailand to victory by six wickets and she was later named player of the match for her figures of 3 for 16. Thailand and China are now the clear front-runners in the competition as they both have three wins in three matches.
China still look to be Thailand’s main rivals in the ACC Women’s Premier as they beat Bhutan by 36 runs at Prem. Bhutan have now lost all four of their matches but they gave China were also tested by brave opposition.
China made 161 for 5 in their 40 overs as opener Zhang Mei made 39, but Bhutan’s captain Dechen Wangmo also made 39 as her side were 56 for one and up with the run-rate. Leg-spinner Lili Han took 4 for 33 in her 8 overs and the last three wickets all fell to run outs as Bhutan collapsed to 125 all out.
Thailand face Iran at Prem on Sunday, while China play Nepal at Gymkhana, and the last match of the competition will see Thailand take on China at Royals in a repeat of the final of the 2013 ACC Women’s Championship which Thailand won in exciting fashion.