THAILAND WOMEN BEAT NAMIBIA AS QUAD CUP GETS UNDERWAY

Thailand made a good start to the Quad Cup which is a four-team tournament contested by Thailand, Namibia, Scotland and Papua New Guinea, as they beat Nambia by 39 runs in the afternoon match on the first day of the warm-up tournament before the ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy.

With the tournament being played at TCG in Bangkok, Thailand made a total of 124 for 5 in 20 overs as Nattaya Boochatham and Chanida Suttiruang gave the home side a good start with an opening stand of 35 before Nannapat Khoncharoenkai made the top score of 46 not out from 43 balls with 7 fours. Silvia Shihepo took 3 for 25 as wickets fell at the end of the innings.

Namibia also started well as their captain Sune Wittman hit 30 from 34 balls with 5 fours before she was caught and bowled by Onnicha Kamchomphu and this proved to be the second of the Thai spinner’s five wickets as she ran through the Namibian batters to finish with a career best 5 for 18.

Namibia were never able to keep up with the required run-rate as four other bowlers claimed a wicket apiece before the last wicket fell to a run out as Namibia were dismissed for 85 in 18.3 overs to give Thailand an encouraging victory.

Thailand are the highest ranked side in the tournament just ahead of Scotland who played in the morning match against Papua New Guinea but Scotland showed they will be Thailand’s stiffest opponents in the Quad Cup as they defeated Papua New Guinea by 55 runs after amassing a total of 146 for 4 in 20 overs.

Opener Darcy Carter hit an unbeaten 71 from 59 balls with 11 fours to steer Scotland to an impressive total which Papua New Guinea were never able to get close to as Niamh Robertson-Jack took 3 for 17 and Olivia Bell took 2 for 17. Papua New Guinea were restricted to 91 for 8 to give Scotland a more than satisfactory start to the Quad Cup.

The tournament continues on Saturday at TCG with Namibia facing Papua New Guinea in the morning match before Thailand face their main rivals Scotland in the afternoon. Scotland were too good for Thailand in the 50-over World Cup Qualifier in Pakistan when the Scots also beat West Indies but Thailand will be hoping to gain their revenge on home soil in the T20 format.