THAILAND WOMEN BEAT PNG BUT IT IS SCOTLAND WHO WIN THE QUAD CUP

THAILAND WOMEN BEAT PNG BUT IT IS SCOTLAND WHO WIN THE QUAD CUP

Thailand’s hopes of winning the Quad Cup which has seen four quality women’s international cricket teams competing over four days at TCG in Bangkok came to an end when Scotland gained their third victory out of three by beating Namibia to claim the trophy but the hosts gained a morale boosting win by overcoming PNG by 7 wickets with an over to spare to finish second in the tournament.

Nattakan Chantham played a match-winning innings of 45 not out to see her side home as they chased a target of 110 which showed that the Thailand team could pace a chase to perfection. They had made a steady start in response to PNG’s total of 109 for 4 but were behind the required run-rate at the halfway stage with their score on 43 for 2, but just as they had done in the two previous matches, Nannapat Khoncharoenkai and Nattakan Chantham had the range of shots to raise the tempo once they had settled at the crease.

They shared a partnership of 50 in seven overs for the third wicket and by the time Nannapat was bowled for 27 from 33 balls with 3 fours, Nattakan was in full flow and she raced to 45 from 38 balls with 5 fours as captain Naruemol Chaiwai scored four in a partnership of 34. Thailand had won by seven wickets to clinch second place with two wins in three matches and could reflect on a last-ball defeat to Scotland. Nattakan Chantham had saved her best until last to be named player of the match.

Thailand’s top four batters had scored runs in all their three matches in this tournament and this afternoon they had chased down their target with an over to spare after taking their time earlier in the innings. The hosts should be full of confidence as they look forward to the ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy which starts in Bangkok on Thursday as their spin bowling and work in the field has also been impressive.

Scotland had earlier won the Quad Cup by beating Namibia by seven wickets as they restricted the African side to 81 for 9 in 20 overs despite opener Kayleen Green scoring 42 from 56 balls. Rachel Slater claimed 3 for 11 from her 4 overs and Priyanaz Chatterji took 2 for 7 as Namibia were reduced to 24 for 4 after 7 overs.

Green hit three sixes to boost Namibia’s total but Scotland few alarms in chasing their target of 82 even after losing an early wicket as Darcey Carter and Ellen Watson shared a second-wicket partnership of 56 in exactly 10 overs before captain Sarah Bryce and Megan McColl saw Scotland home with 34 balls to spare.

Eight teams from all over the world will be competing in the ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy in three days’ time but surely Thailand and Scotland will among the favourites to win this new tournament planned to show off all that is best in women’s Associate cricket.