Thailand have thrown open the race to top-four with a historic maiden win over Pakistan in the Women's Asia Cup T20. Natthakan Chantham starred with a 51-ball 61 before Rosenan Kanoh and Nattaya Boochatham kept their calm in the last over and track down 117, their highest ever chase in the Asia Cup.
WOMEN'S ASIA CUP 2022
Spinners, Chantham star in historic win for Thailand
Chantham scored 61 off 51 in her team's memorable victory © Getty
That said, the four-wicket victory in Sylhet was set up by the spinners who tied down Pakistan batters and allowed only nine boundaries in the innings. Six of them came off the bat of Sidra Ameen, who hit a career-best 56 off 64 and took Pakistan over the 100-run mark. Sornnarin Tippoch was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 2 for 20, and was ably supported by Nattaya Boochatham (0 for 19).
In reply, Chantham held firm at the top and saw Thailand to 82/2 in the 16th over but Naruemol Chaiwai's wicket by Kainat Imtiaz at that juncture led to a collapse which ended with the all-important wicket of Chantham in the 19th over. She fell to Nida Dar who had earlier dropped the batter in the deep. But calm heads in the middle ensured that Thailand crossed the line with a ball to spare.
Brief Scores: Pakistan 116/5 in 20 overs (Ameen 56; Tippoch 2-20) lost to Thailand 117/6 in 19.5 overs (Chantham 61; Tuba Hassan 2-18) by 4 wickets
