Guangzhou, Oct 25: The Mithali Raj-led Indian women’s team registered a thumping 77-run victory over the Thailand women in their Group A encounter of the Asian Cricket Council Women's Twenty20 Asia Cup here today.
Opting to bat first at the Guanggong International Cricket Stadium, India posted a total of 109 for the loss of four wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Although they lost opener Poonam Raut for eight in the sixth over with 16 runs on the board, the rest of the line-up contributed with double-digit scores. Skipper Raj who replaced Raut in the middle went on to top-score for the team with 28 runs. She was involved in 21 and 38-run stands for the second and third wicket with Mona Meshram and Harmanpreet Kaur respectively. Her fourth wicket partnership with N Niranjana was ended for six runs by Somnarin Tippoch when the bowler claimed Raj in the 17th over. Niranjana and Amita Sharma then added 28 runs to set Thailand a 110-run target.
The India bowlers then wrapped up the Thailand innings for just 32 runs in 19.3 overs. Ekta Bisht set the ball rolling with the wickets of openers Tippoch and Pundarika Prathanmitr, while Rasanara Parwin, Niranjana, Meshram and Reema Malhotra followed up with two wickets each to bowl out the opposition.
India will play their next match against Pakistan on October 28.
Brief scores: India 109/4 in 20 overs (M Raj 28, M Meshram 17, S Tippoch 2/19) beat Thailand 32 all out in 19.3 overs (N Boochatham 8, M Meshram 2/1, R Malhotra 2/1, E Bisht 2/7, R Parwin 2/8, N Niranjana 2/9) by 77 runs
Man-of-the-Match: Mithali Raj for her 30-ball 28-run knock
