THAILAND NARROWLY MISS OUT ON FINAL AS THEY LOSE TO BAHRAIN

THAILAND NARROWLY MISS OUT ON FINAL AS THEY LOSE TO BAHRAIN

Thailand had a chance to reach the final of the Men’s Thailand Open if they could beat Bahrain but despite a gallant effort it wasn’t to be as they lost by 12 runs and Japan will face Bahrain in tomorrow’s final.

It was the third round of matches being played at TCG in Bangkok and Japan showed they were the form team when they made it three wins out of three by beating Bhutan by 77 runs after posting an excellent total of 170 for 5 in 20 overs.

Captain Kendal Kadowaki Fleming set off strongly with 34 from 29 balls, then Alex Shirai-Padmore hit a run a ball 43 before Ibrahim Takahashi put the icing on the cake with a rapid 54* from 22 balls with 5 fours and 4 sixes.

Bhutan could not compete with that total and were bowled out for 93 in 18.2 overs as Declan Suzuki-McComb claimed outstanding figures of 5 for 20 after he blew away the top order.

The winners of the afternoon match would face Japan in the final so could local favourites Thailand beat Bahrain, a side ranked much higher in the T20I rankings. It would be a good challenge for Thailand who were strengthened by the addition of Jandree Coetzee in today’s team.

Kamron Senamontree took a wicket in the first over but Bahrain looked to be building a useful total as Prashant Kurup made 26 and Sohail Ahmed 49. It was the veteran South African pace bowler Coetzee who turned the tide by dismissing Sohail Ahmed and Bahrain could score only 19 runs in the last four overs of their innings as they were restricted to 126 for 7.

Thailand’s bowling effort was excellent as Coetzee took 2 for 20 and Kamron Senamontree 2 for 22 but the most economical bowler was Nopphon Senamontree who claimed 1 for 19 with his accurate left-arm spin.

Thailand’s openers then provided a solid base with a stand of 36 in seven overs before Salman Mohamed took two wickets in an over including the consistent Akshay Yadav but the hosts were still in the contest at the halfway stage with the score on 48 for 2.

It was the next over which was the turning point of the match as Asif Shaikh took the two crucial wickets of Jandre Coetzee and Austin Lazarus who had played a match-winning innings of 64 yesterday.

There was still hope while Sorawat Desungnoen was at the crease until he was out for 42 with the score on 69 for 5 but Chaloemwong Chatphaisan took up the chase as he hit a six at the start of the 19^th over.

Could Thailand make a late charge to reach the final with 16 needed from the last over? No was the answer as Chaloemwong was run out for 25 and Kamron bowled next ball. Thailand had been dismissed for 114 and the hosts had lost by 12 runs.

Thailand will now face Bhutan in the play-off for third place.