Chanida Sutthiruang’s unbeaten 28-ball 46 helped Thailand beat Zimbabwe by 27 runs in the third Women’s T20I in Harare to clinch the three-match series 2-1 after going down in the first match.
Riding on Sutthiruang’s blistering knock, Thailand posted 134/5 after opting to bat. She and Naruemol Chaiwai (22*) shared an unbeaten 64-run stand in 44 balls after they were reduced to 70/5 in 12.4 overs.
Nattaya Boochatham (19) and Natthakan Chantham gave Thailand a steady start, adding 27 in 26 balls before the former fell to Precious Marange (1-26) in the fifth over. Three overs after, Nannapat Koncharoenka (7) departed cheaply, to Nomatter Mutasa (1-21).
The next over saw Loreen Tshuma (3-14) clean up Chantham (16), leaving Thailand reeling on 48/3. Onnicha Kamchomphu (14) struck the first six of the match, and looked ominous during his 12-ball stay until Tshuma dismissed her in the 11th over.
Wongpaka Liengprasert (7) did not last long either. Sutthiruang and Chaiwai took charge from there to take Thailand to a respectable total.
Coming to the chase, Zimbabwe promoted in-form batter Marange (4) to open with Modester Mupachikwa. The plan did not work after Chaiwai ran Marange out in the opening over.
Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano (28 in 17) played aggressively inside the Powerplay overs, but her innings came to an end when she hit Thipatcha Putthawong to Kamchomphu, at short cover. Zimbabwe never really recovered from there.
Mupachikwa (13 in 21), Mary-Anne Musonda (23 in 32) and Chiedza Dhururu (19 in 34) all struggled to get going throughout their stay. Boochatham (3-22), Suleeporn Laomi, (0-15), Ratanaporn Padunglerd (0-15) bowled well to keep things in tight. Zimbabwe finished on 107/7.
Brief scores: Thailand Women 134/5 in 20 overs (Chanida Sutthiruang 46*; Loreen Tshuma 3-14) beat Zimbabwe Women 107/7 in 20 overs (Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano 28; Nattaya Boochatham 3-22) by 27 runs.