Thailand Women secured their place in the final of the Asian Games Women’s Qualifier with a commanding 83-run victory over China in the first semi-final at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. A composed batting effort led by Nannapat Koncharoenkai and captain Naruemol Chaiwai laid the foundation before a ruthless bowling display, spearheaded by Onnicha Kamchomphu’s superb 3/4, bundled China out for just 53.
After being asked to bat first, Thailand made a positive start through opener Natthakan Chantham, who struck four boundaries in a brisk 19 off 13 deliveries. Chantham looked in excellent touch during the powerplay before Wang Huiying provided China with the breakthrough, dismissing her at the end of the third over with the score on 22.
China’s bowlers managed to slow the scoring rate considerably after the early aggression. Aphisara Suwanchonrathi struggled to break free during her 18-ball stay and was eventually dismissed by Jiaping Li for nine, leaving Thailand at 40 for 2 in the eighth over. At that stage, China had done well to pull the innings back, but Thailand’s experienced pair of Koncharoenkai and Chaiwai ensured there would be no further wickets.
The duo stitched together a crucial 74-run stand for the third wicket, steadily rebuilding before accelerating as the innings progressed. Koncharoenkai anchored the partnership beautifully, compiling 46 from 46 balls with 3 boundaries. While she fell just four runs short of a deserved half-century when she was caught off Jiaping Li in the 18th over, her knock provided the platform for Thailand’s competitive total.
Chaiwai complemented her wicketkeeper-batter perfectly. The captain rotated strike efficiently and punished loose deliveries during an unbeaten 40 off 36 balls. Though she struck only one boundary, her calm presence ensured Thailand maintained control throughout the middle overs. The late flourish came from Chanida Sutthiruang, whose unbeaten 13 off 8 helped Thailand collect valuable runs at the death. The pair added 23 runs in the final 15 balls as Thailand closed on 137-3 from their 20 overs.
Jiaping Li was the standout bowler for China with figures of 2/20 from three overs, while Wang Huiying finished with 1/20. Mingyue Zhu was economical, conceding only 17 runs from her four-over spell, but Thailand’s experienced middle order ensured the innings never lost direction.
Any hopes of a successful chase quickly disappeared once Thailand’s bowlers took over. China never looked comfortable against the disciplined attack and found themselves under pressure from the outset. Jiaping Li fell for 3(12) in the fourth over, trapped by Thipatcha Putthawong, before Suleeporn Laomi struck a major blow by removing Wei Haiting for 9 after a painstaking 24-ball stay.
China captain Mingyue Zhu attempted to rebuild but was bowled by Laomi for 8, leaving her side struggling at 29 for 3. What followed was a devastating collapse orchestrated by Kamchomphu. The off-spinner ripped through the middle order, dismissing Gong Yuting for 7(14), Wang Huiying for 2(3) and Cai Yuzhi for 2(12) during a match-winning spell of 3/4 from four overs, including a maiden.
China’s innings unravelled completely as they crashed from 31 for 4 to 33 for 7. Ma Ruike and Chen Xinyu were both run out as Thailand’s fielders backed up the excellent bowling effort with sharp work in the field. Sunida Chaturongrattana chipped in with 1/10 from 3.5 overs, while Laomi finished with excellent figures of 2/12 and Putthawong claimed 1/10. Only Feng Qian, who remained unbeaten on seven, offered any resistance as China were eventually bowled out for 53 with one ball remaining. Remarkably, not a single Chinese batter reached double figures.
Having outclassed their opponents with both bat and ball, Thailand marched into the final with confidence, powered by Koncharoenkai, Chaiwai and Kamchomphu. Thailand will face off Malaysia in the finals on Sunday, May 31.
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