You have to tip your hat to Thailand and their control with the ball. They conceded no extras in the opening game against Hong Kong, China and just 3 extras tonight against India.
Let's hear from Suleeporn Laomi - Suleeporn explains that she focused on bowling stump-to-stump because the ball was not turning much, noting that she was fortunate to reap the rewards with three wickets. She then expresses immense satisfaction with her performance, highlighting that India is a top-quality team and praising her side for putting up a strong overall effort.
A tale of two halves - That was the Indian innings summed up. Shafali Verma powered the Women in Blue to a solid platform, with them well placed at 101/2 at the halfway mark. With Verma going great guns, 200 seemed very much possible, but it all fell apart soon after. Wickets fell one after another as India slipped to 137/9 after being 112/3 at one stage. It took a late, useful hand from Kranti Gaud to propel the team past 150.
Thailand walk off with their heads held high - While they may not have managed to keep the score down to the 120 mark that captain Thipatcha Putthawong spoke about at the toss, they have done an excellent job to keep India under 160, considering the position they were in at the halfway mark.
4
Overs19.6
Score159 - 9
Thipatcha Putthawong to Kranti Gaud, FOUR! A good end ot the innings for the Women in Blue. India finish on 159/9. Floated up by Thipatcha Putthawong, outside off. Gaud dances down the track and reaches across to carve it inside out over extra cover. One bounce and over the ropes.
1
Overs19.5
Score155 - 9
Thipatcha Putthawong to Shree Charani, Across off, on a length. Shree collapses her back knee and slams it to the left of long on for a single.
1
Overs19.4
Score154 - 9
Thipatcha Putthawong to Kranti Gaud, Fired in very full, on off. Kranti shimmies down the track and opens up the off side to force it away. Miscues it off the inner half to long on. They cross.
6
Overs19.3
Score153 - 9
Thipatcha Putthawong to Kranti Gaud, SIX! India find the fence after 23 balls. Floated up, on off. Gaud skips down the track and gets to the pitch of the ball. She swings through the line and pumps it over long off for a biggie.
0
Overs19.2
Score147 - 9
Thipatcha Putthawong to Shree Charani, BYE! A stumping chance goes begging! Flatter and a touch fuller, outside off. Shree Charani skips down the track and ends up yorking herself before failing to squeeze it away. The keeper gets down, but fails to gather it. The ball goes through her legs, and the batter gets a run.
0
Overs19.1
Score146 - 9
Thipatcha Putthawong to Shree Charani, Tossed up, fuller, just outside off, Shree Charani punches it back to the bowler. Thipatcha Putthawong fails to field it cleanly, but the ball hits the boots of the bowler and deflects toward mid-wicket.
1
Overs18.5
Score145 - 9
Phannita Maya to Kranti Gaud, A juicy full toss now, flirting with the waistline of the batter. Kranti Gaud tries to smash it downtown, but hits it from the upper part of the bat. The ball balloons and drops safely, short of the long off fielder. It looked to be over the waist on replays, but the umpire is happy with the height.
1
Overs18.1
Score141 - 9
Phannita Maya to Kranti Gaud, Gaud was gone with a direct hit. Full and around off. Gaud presses forward and strokes it wide of extra cover. Thipatcha Putthawong moves to her right and gathers the ball. She fires in a throw at the bowling end but misses. Putthawong could have taken a second or two to steady herself before having a shy.
0
Overs17.6
Score140 - 9
Chanida Sutthiruang to Shree Charani, Fuller in length, angling in. Shree Charani looks to flick, but gets beaten on the inside edge and wears it on the pad. It is definitely going down the leg side.
2
Overs17.5
Score140 - 9
Chanida Sutthiruang to Shree Charani, On the pads, full in length. Charani flicks it away behind square leg. The short fine leg fielder gives chase and slides to haul it in. Two taken.
W
Overs17.2
Score137 - 9
Chanida Sutthiruang to Nandani Sharma, OUT! TIMBER! Sensational from Chanida Sutthiruang. Just keep the ball at the sticks and let the magic happen. Full and straight, at the stumps. Nandani Sharma attempts to flick it away, but the ball sneaks past the inside edge and finds its way to crash into the stumps.
0
Overs17.1
Score137 - 8
Chanida Sutthiruang to Nandani Sharma, Short of a length, shaping in, at the stumps. Nandani Sharma covers the stumps and looks to flick it away, but gets beaten on the inside edge and takes a blow on her thigh pad. The appeal goes round, but the umpire turns it down and indicates that it was high.
W
Overs16.6
Score137 - 8
Sunida Chaturongrattana to Prema Rawat, OUT! STUMPED! A double whammy from Sunida Chaturongrattana. She offers flight, full and outside off. Rawat gives the bowler a premeditated charge and she does not manage to get to the pitch of the ball. She tries to reach out and meet with the ball but fails to do so. She is at a point of no return, and the keeper, Nannapat Koncharoenkai gathers it cleanly before whipping the bails off.
W
Overs16.3
Score136 - 7
Sunida Chaturongrattana to Bharti Fulmali, OUT! CAUGHT! What's the Queen song again? Another one bites the dust. Chaturongrattana drags her length back, offering it well outside off. Bharti Fulmali predetermines to hit big, and for that reason, she opens her stance and tries to pull it across the line, but fails to get the optimum connection. The ball loops toward deep mid-wicket and Aphisara Suwanchonrathi makes no mistake in pouching it.
1wd
Overs16.3
Score135 - 6
Sunida Chaturongrattana to Bharti Fulmali, WIDE! Fuller, but sprays it beyond the tramline on off. Bharti Fulmali swings and misses. Believe it or not, this is the first extra conceded by Thailand Women in this tournament. In the game against Hong Kong, China, they did not concede any extras.
1
Overs16.2
Score134 - 6
Sunida Chaturongrattana to Prema Rawat, Short of a length, at the stumps. Prema Rawat charges down the track and flat-bats it toward the right of the bowler for one.
4
Overs15.4
Score132 - 6
Chanida Sutthiruang to Prema Rawat, FOUR! Not in control but safe. Seam-up ball, on a back of a length, around off. Not wide enough for the cut but Rawat throws her hands at the ball. It kicks up a bit to catch the top edge of the blade and it flies over the leaping short third fielder.
0
Overs15.1
Score127 - 5
Chanida Sutthiruang to Deepti Sharma, Back of a length, angling just outside off. Deepti Sharma looks to cut it away, but misses on the other side. Sharma seemed to indicate that the ball took off.
4
Overs14.6
Score127 - 5
Suleeporn Laomi to Bharti Fulmali, FOUR! Thumped away! Offering some flight on this one, pitching it much fuller, outside off. Bharti Fulmali hangs back, crouches a bit, and drills it along the green carpet to beat the right of the diving cover fielder for a boundary.
4
Overs14.4
Score122 - 5
Suleeporn Laomi to Deepti Sharma, FOUR! Easy pickings for Sharma! Angling down the leg side, on a good length. Deepti Sharma gets inside the line and sweeps it well, getting it past the left of the short fine leg fielder for a boundary.
