India Overcome Batting Collapse to Beat Thailand by 94 Runs in Women’s Asia Cup

India began their Women’s Asia Cup campaign in commanding fashion, defeating Thailand by 94 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

However, the emphatic victory also exposed another worrying collapse in India’s batting. After being asked to bat, India raced to 65/1 in the powerplay and looked on course for a total well beyond 180. Smriti Mandhana gave India a flying start, scoring 19 off 10 balls with four boundaries before being run out while attempting a second run.

T20I debutant Pratika Rawal then kept the momentum going with a promising 22 off 18 deliveries. But the biggest impact came from Shafali Verma, who launched a blistering attack on the Thailand bowlers.

Shafali brought up her 19th T20I half-century in just 26 balls, and India reached 101/2 after 10 overs with the opener firmly in control. At that stage, a huge total appeared inevitable.

Instead, Thailand produced a remarkable fightback.

Rawal’s dismissal in the ninth over gave Thailand an opening, and Shafali fell soon afterwards. Caught and bowled by Suleeporn Laomi, the opener departed for an explosive 64 off 36 balls, having smashed eight fours and three sixes.

Laomi emerged as Thailand’s standout bowler, finishing with 3/26. After dismissing Rawal and Shafali, she struck again to remove Richa Ghosh for a golden duck, leaving India’s middle order under serious pressure.

India’s collapse gathered pace. Harmanpreet Kaur managed only five from nine balls, while Deepti Sharma was run out for five. India slipped from 112/4 to 137/9, losing five wickets for just 25 runs.

Kranti Gaud then provided some much-needed late resistance, smashing an unbeaten 15 off eight balls, including a six and a four, to take India to 159/9.

Given India’s dominant start, the total looked underwhelming. But their bowlers quickly turned it into a one-sided contest.

INDIA’S BOWLERS RUN THROUGH THAILAND

Kranti Gaud made the first breakthrough by dismissing Natthakan Chantham, before Nandani Sharma and Shree Charani continued to dismantle Thailand’s batting order.

Nandani delivered an impressive spell of 3/18, including two wickets in two balls, while Charani claimed 2/10. Prema Rawat was equally economical, conceding just 11 runs in her four overs.

The highlight of India’s bowling display, however, came from Deepti Sharma on her 150th T20I appearance.

Deepti produced an extraordinary spell of 3/0 in just 1.1 overs. She struck with her first delivery, claimed two wickets in her opening three balls and returned to take the final wicket of Nannapat Koncharoenkai.

The dismissal also created history, as Deepti moved past Thailand captain Thipatcha Putthawong to become the leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20I cricket.

Nannapat was Thailand’s only significant resistance, scoring 41 off 48 balls with five fours. But wickets continued to fall around her, leaving Thailand with little chance of mounting a serious chase.

Thailand were eventually bowled out for just 65 in 16.1 overs, giving India a 94-run victory.

India’s bowling performance was clinical, although their fielding remained a concern after they put down two catches. Those mistakes did not hurt them against Thailand, but they could prove costly against stronger opponents.

The win takes India to the top of Group A. With Hong Kong next and a potentially tougher clash against Pakistan to follow, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side will know that their batting and fielding need considerable improvement despite the convincing opening victory.