New Delhi: India won the semi-finals contest against Thailand quite comfortably to enter the finals of the Women’s Asia Cup 2022. Shafali Verma’s firepowered 42 off just 28 deliveries helped India to reach a total of 148/6 while Deepti Sharma spun her way through with the ball. India has been the most successful team in the history of the tournament, and after a not-so-good outing last time, they will look to lift the cup now.
India was facing Thailand for the second time in the tournament and having got their opponents all out for 37 last time, the women in blue were pretty high on confidence. With all experiments and changes done in the past, India got onto the field with the regular side led by Harmanpreet Kaur. Shafali started with a blast and dealt in boundaries. While Smriti Mandhana got out in the fifth over, Shafali played it through with Jemimah Rodrigues before Thailand’s captain Naruemol Chaiwai took a good catch to dismiss her. Jemimah’s 26(27) and Harmanpreet’s 36 off 30 balls contributed well to India’s total. Sornnarin Tippoch bowled well picking up three wickets and Nattaya Boochatham bowled a brilliant 20th over giving just six runs and picking a wicket.
Thailand tried to fight better than last time, but a slow start and a wicket in the third over put India into the driver’s seat. Deepti Sharma took the first three wickets and also became the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 13 scalps. After Renuka Thakur dismissed Chanida Sutthiruang with a beautiful yorker, Thailand stood at 21/4. A partnership between Nattaya Boochatham and Chaiwai tried to stabilise things for the team. However, in the death overs, Sneh Rana and Shafali picked a wicket each while Rajeshwari Gayakwad showed her class with two-in-two to win the game by 74 runs. India will now face the winner of the game between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Nonetheless, Thailand reaching the semis would be a good result for the team. Also, Shafali Verma and Sabbhineni Meghana gaining confidence and Jemimah Rodrigues returning from an injury with a bang are some great signs for India.
