Women Asia Cup: Defending champions India registers resounding 66 runs victory over Thailand

Kuala Lumpur, June 5: Following their comprehensive 142 runs win against Malaysia, India put on another resounding performance to outclass Thailand by 66 runs on Monday in their second game of the Women’s Asia Cup which is being held in the Royal Selangor Club, Kuala Lumpur. 

However, India made two changes to their playing XI and tweaked their batting order with Mithali Raj, the top-scorer from previous game sitting out. Mona Meshram was sent in as an opener and Veda Krishnamurty at No. 3 position.

Smriti Mandhana and Mona put on an opening stand of 52 runs. Mona took her time while Smriti went for the big shots once she got her eye in. Smriti hit two sixes before getting out in the 10th over. Though Veda got to double figures, she did not last long and was dismissed on the score of 11.

Captain Harmanpret Kaur steadied the innings and hit a quick-fire 27 from 17 balls that included three boundaries. That wasn’t all as Harmanpreet the bowler was equally effective and perhaps the most successful. She picked three wickets from her three overs and at one point was on a hat-trick.

Indian spinners were on target and did not allow the Thailand batters to get away. Anuja Patil bowled 15 dot balls in her three overs and Deepti Sharma (2/16) bowled 12 in her quota of four overs. India will next play Bangladesh on Wednesday.

Brief scores: India Women 132/4 in 20 overs (Mona Meshram 32, Smriti Mandhana 29, Harmanpreet Kaur 27; Wongpaka Liengprasert 2-16) beat Thailand Women 66/8 in 20 overs (Nattaya Boochatham 21; Harmanpreet Kaur 3-11) by 66 runs.

Player of the Match: Harmanpreet Kaur