The first T20I of the three-match series between Zimbabwe Women and Thailand Women was a low-scoring thriller. The match had many twists and turns, but in the end, it was Zimbabwe who emerged victorious, only by one wicket at Takashinga Sports Club, Harare.
Nattaya Boochatham (1) and Natthakan Chantham (6) fell without making any impact after Mary-Anne Musonda won the toss and asked them to bat. Onnicha Kamchomphu (1) and Naruemol Chaiwai departed cheaply as well as Thailand were left reeling on 29/4 in 8.3 overs.
Nannapat Koncharoenkai and Chanida Sutthiruang held the fort from there, forging an unbroken 75-run fifth-wicket stand to take Thailand to 104/4. Koncharoenkai smacked nine fours in her 53-ball 62 not out, but Sutthiruang (33* in 37 balls) could not manage to accelerate as efficiently.
Precious Marange (0-13) was the most economical bowler for Zimbabwe, and Josephine Nkomo (1-17) and Christabel Chatonzwa (2-18) were as impressive.
Coming to defend, Boochatham (3-18) trapped Ashley Ndiraya in the opening over to give Thailand the start they wanted. Modester Mupachikwa (29) and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano (30) revived the Zimbabwe innings from there, adding 49 in 56 balls before the latter fell to Onnicha Kamchomphu (3-18) in the tenth over.
Mupachikwa then added 23 with Musonda, but once the former was cleaned up by Suleeporn Laomi (2-22), Zimbabwe lost control of the game. They slipped from 72/2 to 80/8 in no time.
Chiedza Dhururu (15) and Nomvelo Sibanda (11*) then came to Zimbabwe’s rescue. They batted sensibly before Sibanda struck the winning boundary in the last over, though not before Dhururu got out.
The two teams will again meet on 29 August for the second T20I, at the same venue.
Brief Scores: Thailand 104/4 in 20 overs (Nannapat Koncharoenkai 62; Christabel Chatonzwa 2-18) lost to Zimbabwe 107/9 in 19.3 overs (Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano 30; Nattaya Boochatham 3-18) by 1 wicket with 3 balls to spare.