Pakistan will now tackle India of their second group match. Picture: ACC
Muneeba Ali battled by means of oppressive warmth to hit a half-century earlier than Pakistan’s disciplined spinners secured a 35-run victory over Thailand of their T20 Asia Cup opener on Tuesday.
The consequence eradicated Thailand from the competitors after their second defeat in three matches, whereas Pakistan overcame one other below-par batting show to make a successful begin.
Opting to bat after successful the toss, Pakistan posted 119-9 on a gradual, low pitch, regardless of captain Fatima Sana hoping her facet would surpass 150.
“It was a low-scoring match, so we needed to bowl in the identical space as a lot as attainable,” Tuba Hasan mentioned in an interview with PCB
“There wasn’t constant bounce from the pitch, so I bowled accordingly,” Nashra Sandhu mentioned. “I didn’t have any specific plan. I stored issues easy, and the pitch was serving to us quite a bit.”
Thailand struggled all through their chase and completed 84-8 as Pakistan’s spinners stored the stress on with tight traces and attacking subject placements.
Thipatcha Putthawong struck within the second over with a double-wicket maiden, eradicating Shawaal Zulfiqar and Gull Feroza, to turn out to be the main wicket-taker in ladies’s T20 internationals. Putthawong now has 173 wickets within the format at a median of 9.17, whereas she completed the match with 2-21.
Pakistan stumbled to 32-3 within the powerplay, with Ayesha Zafar falling to an excellent catch by Natthakan Chantham at midwicket off Phannita Maya.
Muneeba then steadied the innings with Sadaf Shamas, including 54 for the fourth wicket. Muneeba, who appeared to wrestle with the warmth and repeatedly stopped to catch her breath, remained on the crease till the seventeenth over earlier than being stumped by Suleeporn Laomi. She struck 4 boundaries in her 54 off 52 balls to register her fourth T20I half-century.
Shamas contributed a helpful 20 earlier than Laomi struck twice within the thirteenth over, eradicating her after which dismissing Sana for a second-ball duck with an excellent diving return catch. Laomi completed with 3-14 from 4 overs. Pakistan’s complete was boosted by Tuba Hasan, who smashed a six and a 4 in her unbeaten 12 off 4 balls.
“My plan was additionally easy: to bowl in the appropriate areas and goal the stumps,” Hasan mentioned.
Thailand’s chase by no means gained momentum.
Sadia Iqbal ripped by means of the highest order within the second over, dismissing Maya and Nannapat Koncharoenkai in one other double-wicket maiden. Sandhu then squeezed Thailand additional after the powerplay, conceding solely six runs from her 4 overs whereas additionally eradicating Chantham.
“On pitches like these, it is rather vital to bowl in the identical space. The pitch supplies the remainder of the help,” Sandhu mentioned.
“On pitches like these, it is advisable bowl persistently,” she added.
Iqbal returned for the ultimate over and claimed one other wicket to complete with 3-11.
Pakistan’s victory got here regardless of their struggles with the bat, though their subsequent problem in opposition to India is more likely to supply significantly much less room for error.
“We’re making ready for the following match as properly. The humidity right here could be very excessive, so we’ve to adapt ourselves accordingly,” Hasan mentioned.
“Earlier than the following match, we have to cut back our errors additional in order that we are able to carry out higher.”
Hasan additionally mentioned she would look to take care of her kind whereas contributing with the bat.
“I’ll attempt to preserve my consistency and concede fewer runs within the subsequent match,” she mentioned. “I actually get pleasure from my batting and attempt to contribute with the bat as properly.”
Sandhu believes a modest complete can nonetheless show aggressive on such surfaces.
“If we rating 140 in opposition to opponent on a pitch like this, we’ve spinners who could make the circumstances work in our favour,” she mentioned.
