Thailand, Sri Lanka win in Women’s Asia Cup

KATHMANDU: Sri Lanka and Thailand won their respective Group B matches in the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup in Dambulla on Saturday.

In the first match played on Saturday, Thailand defeated Malaysia by 22 runs. Batting first, Thailand scored 133 runs for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Nannapat Koncharoenkai top-scored for Thailand with a 35-ball 40, which included six fours, while Phannita Maya scored 29 and Nattaya Boochatham contributed 18 runs from 10 balls.

Mahirah Izzati Ismail took three wickets for Malaysia, while Subaika Manivannan, Aisya Eleesa, and Winifred Duraisingam had a wicket each to their names.

Chasing 133, Malaysia folded for 111 runs for the loss of eight wickets, despite a half-century by Wan Julia. Although Malaysian openers Winifred Duraisingam and Julia added 68 runs for the first wicket, its middle and lower order imploded as no other batters could reach double digits.

Onnicha Kamchompu took two wickets for Thailand while Chanida Suttiruang, Nattaya Boochatham, Thipatcha Putthawong, and Suleeporn Laomi contributed with a wicket each.

Sri Lanka defeats Bangladesh

Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets in the second match of the day.

Batting first, Bangladesh scored 111 runs for the loss of eight wickets. Sri Lanka chased down the total in 17.1 overs, losing three wickets. Captain Nigar Sultana scored an unbeaten 49 off 59 balls for Bangladesh, while Shorna Akter hit a 14-ball 25 and Rabeya Khan scored 10. Udeshika Prabodhani and Inoshi Priyadarshani took two wickets each for Sri Lanka, while Sugandika Kumari, Kavisha Dilhari, and Chamari Athapaththu took a wicket each.

Vishmi Gunaratne scored 51 off 48 balls and Harshitha Samarawickrama scored 33 as Sri Lanka made light work of the chase.

Nahida Akter took all three wickets for Bangladesh.

India plays UAE in the first match of Group A on Sunday, while Nepal meets Pakistan in the second match.