Nahida, spinners thump Thailand on triple-header Sunday

Two-time Asia Cup runners-up Pakistan pulverised Thailand by eight wickets on the opening day of the 2018 edition courtesy four combined wickets between the spin troika of Sana Mir, Nashra Sandhu and Nida Dar and an unbeaten 38 from Player-of-the-Match Nahida Khan. Pakistan restricted Thailand to 67 for 8 before Nahida and Javeria Khan’s unbeaten 24-run stand sealed the chase with nearly seven overs to spare.

Thailand captain Sornnarin Tippoch’s decision to bat first backfired as only two batsmen – opener Nattakan Chantam and Tippoch herself, in at No. 5 – managed to notch up double-digit scores. Their identical individual tally of 17 proved inadequate in the face of the offspin offensive from Mir and Dar who returned 2 for 7 and 1 for 11 respectively. Left-arm spinner Sandhu removed Chantam inside the Powerplay and later she ran out No. 3 batsman Nattaya Boochatham for a duck.

Languishing at 37 for 4 halfway into the innings, Thailand could only add another 30 in the last 10 overs at the expense of another four wickets. While wicketkeeper Sidra Nawaz caught Tippoch short of her ground, the pace bowling duo of Diana Baig and Kainat Imtiaz snaffled one lower-order wicket each.

Pakistan’s chase, however, suffered two jolts inside nine overs as opener Muneeba Ali and captain Bismah Maroof feel for six each. Nahida’s unbeaten 38 steered the innings, while Javeria ended her 19-ball 18 with a four, wrapping up the game in the 14th over.