At the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Thursday, India defeated Thailand by a score of 74 runs to go to the Women's Asia Cup final. Shafali Verma scored a quickfire 47, and Deepti Sharma recorded incredible figures of 3/7.
After India scored 148/6 on a slow pitch in their 20 overs, their bowlers put on another outstanding display to hold Thailand to 74/9 in their 20 overs. In order to find out who they will face in the championship game on Saturday, India must first determine the outcome of the second semifinal, which will take place later this afternoon between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Shafali began his innings after being forced to bat first by lofting and sweeping two boundaries in the opening three overs. Smriti Mandhana skillfully blasted a backfoot drive through cover to make it the third boundary in the third over after Shafali was given a respite when the cover fielder was unable to secure the catch.
After that, Shafali challenged Chanida Sutthiruang by scoring a series of fours off of her throws through mid-on. When Smriti smacked a full toss straight to mid-on off Phannita Maya, the initial partnership came to an end on 38. After swiping past mid-wicket for four runs, Shafali blasted Thipatcha Putthawong for a big six over long-on.
Shafali's 28-ball innings came to an end in the tenth over when she was bowled by Sornnarin Tippoch for a catch at sharp silly mid-on. Before the former was caught in flight and holed out to long-on in the 14th over, Jemimah Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur teamed up to hit five boundaries in the following three overs.
As Thailand made a strong return in the last five overs, losing 31 runs and capturing three wickets, including Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma, to hold India to 148/6, Harmanpreet hung around to hit back-to-back fours through the gap in the off-side.
In defence of the total, Deepti ensured that India kept Thailand in check right away. Natthakan Chantham was caught by Shafali in the third over, but she made up for it by catching Nannapat Koncharoenkai at square leg two balls later, giving Deepti her first victory of the game.
With her 3/7, which included 21 dot balls, Deepti went on to dismiss Natthakan and Sornnarin in her following two overs, thereby ending Thailand's pursuit and giving India the victory.
Though Nattaya and skipper Naruemol added 42 runs for the fifth wicket, it was too little too late for Thailand as India picked three more wickets in the last three overs to storm into the final of the Women's Asia Cup for the eighth straight time.
Brief scores: India 148/6 in 20 overs (Shafali Verma 42, Harmanpreet Kaur 36; Sornnarin Tippoch 3-24) beat Thailand 74/9 in 20 overs (Nattaya Boochatham 21, Naruemol Chaiwai 21; Deepti Sharma 3-7, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2-10) by 74 runs