SEMI-FINAL WINS FOR THAILAND AND MALAYSIA SET UP WOMEN’S T20 FINAL

SEMI-FINAL WINS FOR THAILAND AND MALAYSIA SET UP WOMEN’S T20 FINAL

The tenth day of the SEA Games 2025 saw the semi-finals of the women’s T20 at AIT with Thailand facing Indonesia in the morning and Malaysia taking on Myanmar in the afternoon.

Thailand beat Indonesia by 74 runs and Malaysia defeated Myanmar by 89 runs so we are set for a gold medal match between the two strongest women’s cricket teams in South-East Asia.

Indonesia are an improving team who were silver medallists in the women’s T10 who and they asked Thailand to bat first in the hope of taking early wickets.

Natthakan Chantam just two days after hitting a supreme 148* was caught at backward point for only 10 and Thailand lost their top three batters with just 46 on the board.

Captain Naruemol Chaiwai is the woman for a crisis and she batted through to the end of the innings to see Thailand to a total of 144 for 8. The captain made a dependable 51 from 45 balls before being run out from the last ball of the 20th over and Phannita Maya played a useful supporting role with 20.

Indonesia had put up a good fight in the field but they lost the key wicket of Maria Corazon who had scored 51 against Malaysia in the second over. Indonesia’s batters were able to occupy the crease but a target of 145 in 20 overs always looked beyond them.

Indonesia reached 46 for 4 at the halfway stage but lost their last six wickets for just six runs. Onnicha Kamchomphu finished with figures of 4 for 13 and Suleeporn Laomi 3 for 12 as the four Thai spinners shared all ten wickets as Indonesia collapsed to 70 all out in 16.2 over as Thailand won by 74 runs to reach the final.

Malaysia faced Myanmar in the second semi-final and Malaysia women have more confidence in their batting line-up now they have Winifred Duraisingam at the top of the order and Elsa Hunter in the middle-order.

Malaysia’s team are more suited to playing 20 overs cricket rather than T10 where Myanmar were able to beat them in the league match before Malaysia were too strong in the bronze medal match.

It was Mas Elysa who top scored with 67 from 53 balls with 11 fours and she shared a stand of 85 with Elsa Hunter that put Malaysia on the way to 154 for 4 which is more than Myanmar have ever scored in T20 cricket.

Myanmar started well in their reply and were 55 for 3 after 10 overs with hopes of at least reaching three figures. Win Zar Li and Lin Zon have been their best two batters but the last seven wickets fell for just eight runs as Arianna Natsya took 4 for 11. Myanmar were bowled out for 65 in 15.2 overs as Malaysia won by the crushing margin of 89 runs

The cricket events at the SEA Games come to an end at TCG tomorrow as Indonesia will face Myanmar in the third-place play-off in the women’s T20 before Malaysia meet Thailand in the gold medal match.

Malaysia so impressive today against Myanmar could provide a big test for the hosts who are looking to make it six golds out of six in women’s cricket at the SEA Games.