THAILAND WIN IN BRILLIANT FASHION BUT JUST MISS OUT ON A SEMI-FINAL PLACE
February 6, 2024
5TH/6TH PLACE, MATCH 17- THAILAND VS MALDIVES , ACC MENS CHALLENGER CUP 2024
February 7, 2024

With groups decided today we have the play-offs to decide 5th to 8th places in the ACC T20 Men’s T20 Challenger Cup.  Thailand faced Indonesia in the fifth place play-off and gave another fine display as they won by seven wickets thanks to some fine bowling from Jandree Coetzee backed up by Robert Raina and another positive display with the bat.

Thailand had a brilliant victory yesterday in 9.4 overs as they beat Maldives by eight wickets. They just missed out on second place in the table on net run-rate so are back playing in the fifth place play-off. Thailand won the toss and elected to field and were looking for the same level of performance as yesterday.

Thailand were hoping the ball would swing under cloudy skies and Jandree Coetzee struck with his fourth ball as Tadarus was lbw for nought.

Indonesia survived Mukesh Thakur’s opening over but Jandree bowled a second maiden. Nopphon Senamontree came on in the fifth over and Padmarkar hit him for two fours and Kesuma hit a six to mid-wicket as 15 came off the over but Indonesia were restricted to 33 in six overs. A six for Kesuma brought up the fifty but Nopphon changed ends and broke the partnership on 56 with Kesuma caught at long-off.

Nopphon finished well with the ball but Padmarkar was leading his side to a good score as Indonesia reached 95 for 3 in 15 overs but we have seen a master-class from some experienced seam bowlers in the last five overs. Robert Raina finished with figures of 3 for 20 and Jandree was exceptional with 4-2-9-3. Thakur was tight as well before the last ball of the innings went for six.

Padmarkar made 46 from 44 with five fours and and Gamantika hit 30* from 23 as Indonesia made 131 for 8 and Thailand would have a full 20 overs to claim victory today.

Akshay Yadav who batted so well yesterday hit the first ball of the innings for four and continued to find the boundary and Chaloemwong was now matching him blow for blow.

Thailand brought up their fifty in five overs and the openers were playing in great style before Chaloemwong was caught at cover.as Thailand were 52 for 1 off 6.

Narawit was promoted to number three and struggled to start with before hitting a six over long-off and Akshay is looking supreme. This attacking approach from Thailand’s batters was now looking a million dollars as they reached 85 for 1 in 10 overs.

Akshay Yadav was looking to complete his second successive fifty when he was run out for 49 but this gave a chance to Austin Lazarus to spend time at the crease. Narawit was stumped for 20 but Lazarus reached 27* and Jandree Coetzee helped secure victory by seven wickets as Thailand won by seven wickets in 17.2 overs..

Thailand finished fifth with their third win in a row and Jandree was again named player of the match for his all-round effort