Thailand Women produced a commanding all-round performance against Papua New Guinea Women in the opening ODI of the three-match series at Amini Park, Port Moresby, cruising to a 121-run victory after an innings built around patience, timely acceleration and a superb unbeaten-looking middle-order foundation before the hosts were bowled out for 116 in 35.3 overs. At the centre of Thailand’s batting effort was captain Naruemol Chaiwai, who produced a brilliant 82 from 98 deliveries, earning the Player of the Match award for an innings that combined control with calculated aggression.
Thailand began cautiously after being asked to build their innings, with Phannita Maya and Natthakan Chantham putting together the opening stand. Maya made 8 from 18 balls before she was run out by Vicky Buruka, bringing the opening partnership to 20 runs in 8.2 overs. Chantham then continued to hold the innings together, eventually scoring 30 from 65 deliveries with two boundaries. She added 48 runs with Nannapat Koncharoenkai for the second wicket, taking Thailand from 20/1 to 68/2 in 18.3 overs. The partnership was important because it allowed Thailand to recover from the early dismissal without losing further wickets.
Once Nannapat Koncharoenkai settled in, Thailand began to find greater momentum. The wicketkeeper-batter struck 54 from 72 balls, including four boundaries, and combined with Naruemol Chaiwai for a match-shaping third-wicket partnership. Their stand produced 94 runs, taking Thailand from 68/2 to 162/3 in 37.3 overs. Nannapat’s innings provided the platform, while Chaiwai gradually shifted the tempo and began finding the boundary more regularly. Nannapat was eventually dismissed by Henao Thomas, but by then Thailand had built a strong position. Chaiwai then took responsibility for converting that foundation into a substantial total, batting deep into the innings and eventually finishing with 82 off 98 balls, including six fours.
The captain received valuable support from Aphsara Suwanchonrathi, who scored a brisk 28 from 30 balls with one four. Their fourth-wicket partnership was worth 37 runs, moving Thailand from 162/3 to 199/4 in 45.1 overs. Chaiwai’s dismissal at that stage ended a magnificent individual effort, but Thailand still had enough batting resources to launch a late assault. Chanida Sutthiruang then produced one of the fastest innings of the day, smashing 19 from just 12 balls with two boundaries. Her 30-run fifth-wicket partnership with Aphsara carried the score to 229/5 after 48.2 overs. Thailand’s lower order added the final touches, guiding them to 237/8 after 50 overs, with 11 extras also contributing to the final score.
For Papua New Guinea, Pauke Siaka returned figures of 1/34 from 10 overs, Isabel Toua conceded 43 from seven overs without a wicket, Konio Oala went for 10 in her lone over, Hane Tau took 2/55, and Sibona Jimmy bowled three overs for 20 runs. The final total of 237/8 gave Thailand a strong platform, particularly considering the slow early scoring and the value of the partnerships in the middle overs.
Papua New Guinea’s chase began with Konio Oala and Naoani Vare attempting to provide a steady start, but Thailand struck in the sixth over when Konio was dismissed for 11 from 20 balls by Thipatcha Puttawong, leaving PNG at 17/1 after 5.2 overs. Vare added 11 from 22 deliveries before she became Puttawong’s second victim, with the score reaching 28/2 in 9.4 overs. Brenda Tau, the Papua New Guinea captain and wicketkeeper, followed shortly afterwards for six from 17 balls, dismissed by Sunida Chaturongrattana at 28/3 in 10.1 overs. Sibona Jimmy was the next to depart, scoring only five from 16 balls before Chaturongrattana struck again, reducing PNG to 39/4 after 14.4 overs.
Tanya Ruma and Pauke Siaka then attempted to rebuild the innings. Ruma made 29 from 56 balls, hitting three boundaries, while Siaka scored 12 from 18 deliveries with one four. Their partnership carried PNG from 39/4 to 73/5 in 21.2 overs before Ruma was run out by Aphsara Suwanchonrathi and Phannita Maya. Siaka was then dismissed for 12, caught by Natthakan Chantham off Suleeporn Laomi, with PNG falling to 95/6 after 28.3 overs. The hosts needed a substantial partnership at that point, but Thailand’s disciplined attack continued to close the door.
Hollan Doriga briefly offered resistance with 19 from 35 balls, while Henao Thomas contributed nine from 19. Their partnership moved the score from 95/6 to 111/7 in 33.2 overs before Thomas was bowled by Onnicha Kamchomphu. The final wickets fell in quick succession. Isabel Toua was dismissed at 116/8 after 34.4 overs, Hollan Doriga followed at 116/9 after 35.1 overs, and Vicky Buruka was the last batter dismissed as Papua New Guinea were bowled out for 116 in 35.3 overs. Hane Tau and Buruka remained unbeaten on zero, but the damage had already been done.
Thailand’s bowling attack had steadily dismantled the Papua New Guinea batting order. Sunida Chaturongrattana then completed an excellent bowling performance by dismissing Isabel Toua for one and Hollan Doriga for 19, taking three wickets in the innings and finishing with 3/20 from six overs. Onnicha Kamchomphu also claimed 3/15 from 5.3 overs, while Thipatcha Puttawong returned 2/15 from six overs. Suleeporn Laomi added 1/23 from six overs, Aphsara Suwanchonrathi bowled three overs for just eight runs and claimed no wicket, and Phannita Maya conceded only 15 runs from five overs.
The 121-run victory gives Thailand a strong start to the Papua New Guinea ODI series. Chaiwai’s 82 was the defining innings, but Thailand’s win was built through contributions throughout the order and a collective bowling effort. Papua New Guinea showed flashes of resistance through Ruma, Doriga and Siaka, yet could not produce the extended partnerships required to challenge a target of 238. With Thailand winning 237/8 to 116 in 35.3 overs, the visitors walk away with considerable momentum and plenty of positives ahead of the next match.
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