The stage was set at the Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur for the highly anticipated first semi-final of the ACC Women’s Premier Cup 2026. In an encounter carrying high stakes, Indonesia Women won the toss. They elected to bat first, hoping to post a challenging total against a disciplined Thai bowling attack. However, the decision backfired as the Indonesian batting lineup collapsed under relentless pressure, paving the way for a clinical chase by Thailand Women, who secured their spot in the finals with a dominant six-wicket victory.
Indonesia’s innings got off to a cautious but shaky start. Openers Kadek Winda Prastini and Rahmawati Pangestuti tried to build a solid foundation, grinding out a 17-run opening partnership before Prastini was brilliantly run out by Phannita Maya for 12 runs off 21 balls. The introduction of Thailand’s spinners quickly turned the tide. Ni Luh Dewi departed without scoring, stumped by Nannapat Koncharoenkai off Sunida Chaturongrattana, leaving Indonesia at 2-18.
Pangestuti laboured her way to 14 off 23 deliveries before she was clean-bowled by Chaturongrattana, ending a brief 17-run stand for the third wicket. Captain Ni Putu Ayu Nanda Sakarini showed some resistance, scoring a top-scoring 17 runs off 24 balls. She shared a minor 12-run partnership with Ni Kadek Fitria Rada Rani (3 off 10 balls) before Rani was cleaned up by Suleeporn Laomi. Sakarini herself fell shortly after, caught by Chaturongrattana off Onnicha Kamchomphu with the score at 5-49.
The middle and lower order crumbled rapidly thereafter. Ni Made Putri Suwandewi could only manage 1 run before giving a return catch to Kamchomphu. Lie Qiao injected a brief moment of aggression with a quickfire 8 off 7 balls, including a boundary, adding 11 runs with Kisi Kasse, who remained stranded on an unbeaten 4 runs off 11 balls. Qiao’s dismissal by Thipatcha Putthawong at 7-61 triggered a sensational final over.
Thailand’s star all-rounder Phannita Maya etched her name into the match highlights by picking up a remarkable hat-trick in the 19th over. She clean-bowled Ni Ariani (5 off 3 balls) on the second ball of her over, followed by trapping Sang Maypriani leg-before-wicket (lbw) for a golden duck. Maya completed her hat-trick on the very next ball by trapping Dara Paramitha lbw for another duck, bundling out Indonesia Women for a meager total of 66 runs in 18.4 overs.
Among the Thai bowlers, Phannita Maya led the wreckage with astonishing figures of 3 wickets for 13 runs in 3.4 overs. She received exceptional backing from Sunida Chaturongrattana 2 for 17 in 4 overs, Onnicha Kamchomphu 2 for 14 in 4 overs, Suleeporn Laomi 1 for 8 in 4 overs, including a maiden, and Thipatcha Putthawong 1 for 13 in 3 overs, suffocating the Indonesian batters completely.
Chasing a modest target of 67 runs from 20 overs, Thailand Women approached the innings with intent but were tested early on by a spirited Indonesian bowling response. Dynamic opener Natthakan Chantham struck two elegant boundaries during her brief stay, putting up a 12-run opening partnership with Phannita Maya before being clean-bowled by Dara Paramitha for 10 runs off 10 balls.
Nannapat Koncharoenkai joined Maya at the crease, and the duo worked to stabilise the innings. They put together a careful 17-run partnership for the second wicket, taking the score to 29 before Koncharoenkai (6 off 12 balls) fell victim to Sang Maypriani, caught by Qiao. Maya, displaying true all-round capabilities, contributed 12 runs off 16 balls to the chase before becoming Maypriani’s second victim, caught by Kasse with the scoreboard reading 3-36.
Skipper Naruemol Chaiwai then took charge alongside Chanida Sutthiruang. The pair added a steady 7-run partnership before Chaiwai was run out by Suwandewi for 8 runs off 9 balls. Sitting at 4-43, the Thai team required an explosive finish to seal the game. Aphisara Suwanchonrathi provided exactly that, playing a blistering cameo of 18* runs off just 9 balls, punctuated by 3 boundaries. She forged an unbeaten 24-run partnership with Sutthiruang (11* off 17 balls) to guide Thailand Women home comfortably.
Thailand reached a winning total of 67 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in exactly 12 overs, winning the match by 6 wickets with a massive 48 balls remaining. For Indonesia, Sang Maypriani stood out with the ball, picking up 2 wickets for 21 runs in her 4 overs, while Dara Paramitha delivered an economical spell of 1 wicket for 7 runs in 2 overs. Ni Made Putri Suwandewi (0 for 19) and Ni Ariani (0 for 20) bowled with effort but could not break the final partnership.
Unsurprisingly, for her spectacular hat-trick and crucial top-order contributions, Phannita Maya was rightfully awarded the Player of the Match, as Thailand Women deservedly advanced to the finals of the tournament.
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