In the dramatic final of the Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier, Kavisha Egodage claimed the final three wickets for Thailand, including that of Natthakan Chantham, to seal the victory for her team by six runs.
The United Arab Emirates made the decision to bat first and ended their 20 overs with a score of 70 for nine. Chanida Sutthiruang bowled Esha Oza for two runs in the opening over of the last match, which meant that she was unable to build on her knock of 85 from the previous match against Hong Kong. Theertha Satish and Egoadage had a fleeting partnership of 19 points until Nattaya Boochatham was able to corner Egoadage in front of the pack.
Once more, the United Arab Emirates rebuilt with a 20-run partnership before Chaya Mughal became the first victim of Onnicha Kamchomphu, getting caught by Chantham for 9. Kamchomphu would go on to take two more wickets, assisting Thailand in inciting a stunning collapse that resulted in the United Arab Emirates losing seven wickets for only 28 runs.
The injury sustained by Thailand’s captain Naruemol Chaiwai earlier in the match was a setback for the team, since it meant that she would not be able to come out to bat. since a result, Thailand would effectively have only nine wickets to play with at any given time.
Their pursuit was organised in a manner not dissimilar to their first innings. Following an opening partnership of 18 runs between Suwanan Khiaoto and Nannapat Koncharoenkai, Indhuja Nandakumar took the first wicket for the United Arab Emirates by bowling Khiaoto for 7. Then, Vaishnave Mahesh coaxed Koncharoenkai out of her crease before Satish ripped the bails off the wickets.
In her four overs, Suraksha Kotte allowed only four runs, and she bowled Boochatham out for a duck. Rosenan Kanoh was then caught and bowled by Oza, ending Kotte’s innings. This came Chantham to the crease, and despite the fact that there were wickets falling around her, she was able to reduce Thailand’s equation to 12 runs needed off of 25 balls.
Step forward, Kavisha Egodage.
After getting her maiden wicket by having Sornnarin Tippoch caught behind, the off-spinner went on to take an even bigger scalp by having Chantham have her timber disrupted. After three more balls, the number eleven hitter, Thipatcha Putthawong, was also caught behind, which prompted jubilant celebrations from the Chaya Mughal-led unit.
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