The first semi-final for the T20 Quadrangular series had Bangladesh facing Thailand at the Urja Stadium in Patna. Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field first. The start of the Thailand innings saw the dismissal of opener Nattaya Boochatham in the very first over by Bangladesh pace battery Jahanara Alam.
In form batter, Nattakan Chantam stood steady like a rock and anchored the Thailand innings with her run a ball knock of 60 runs with four 4s and a couple of sixes. She along with batter Koncharoenkai added 68 runs for the second wicket. After losing the latter to a run-out, Chantam then struck a vital partnership with Sutthiruang who paced the Thailand innings towards the end with her innings of 22 off 17 balls.
Thailand managed a decent first inning total of 120 for the loss of three wickets. Bangladesh had a slow and steady start to the innings. Opener Shamima Sultana laid down the foundation for the chase and played a patient knock of 38 runs. Sanjida Islam (21 off 23) and Nigar Sultana(15 off 19) contributed in the middle overs.
The 16 the over proved to be dramatic when Thai all-rounder Boochatham dented the Bangladesh chase by picking up the wickets of two set batters.
Medium-pacer Padunglerd picked up three wickets for the Thailand eves with an impressive economy rate of 3.50.
Soon, Bangladesh were reeling on 92 for 4 and the required run rate looked a tad too high. 29 runs in 21 balls looked out of reach
Fortunes changed when Fahima Khatun walked into the middle. She had her day with the bat when she played a match-winning cameo scoring 28 off just 13 balls with four fours including one off the last ball of the match.
The target of 121 which was supposed to be an easy task proved herculean because of the slow-paced start of Bangladeshi innings. The match turned out to be a last-ball thriller. Fahima Khatun catapulted her team to the victory and Bangladesh won the match by 2 wickets with zero balls left.
Bangladesh will now take on India B in the final on Wednesday (January 22), while India A and Thailand will fight to claim the third spot the same day.
Brief Scores:
Thailand Women: 120/3 (20)
Bangladesh Women: 124/8 (20)
Result: Bangladesh won by 2 wickets
