Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur guided India to a comprehensive 66-run win against Thailand in the second match of Women’s Asia Cup. Electing to bat first, India posted a total of 132 runs in 20 overs. With Mithali Raj rested and Rajeshwari Gayakwad not selected, Veda Krishnamurthy and Ekta Bisht got the chance to play.
Mona Meshram and Smriti Mandhana opened the innings for India to give a steady start of 53 runs in 9 overs. But Mandhana fell in the bowling of Boochatham by a sharp catch by O Khamchompu. Veda Krishnamurthy failed to create any impact as she fell shortly afterwards for only 11 runs. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s 27 runs in 17 balls and all-rounder Anuja Patil’s quickfire 21lifted the Indian score to 132.
Coming into bat, Thailand lost their way from the beginning of the innings. Openers Chantam and Chaiwai accumulated only 6 runs in the first three overs. Pooja Vastrakar provided the first breakthrough by picking up Chaiwai’s wicket. However, the captain was the star of the day who picked up 3 wickets to confirm the victory for India. Kaur finished her 3 overs with figures of 3 for 11. She was adjudged the ‘Player of the Match’ for her all-round effort.
