THAILAND STUNNED BY UAE BUT SCOTLAND BEATEN BY NETHERLANDS

THAILAND STUNNED BY UAE BUT SCOTLAND BEATEN BY NETHERLANDS

On an amazing day of cricket at TCG in Bangkok Thailand lost to UAE by seven runs to give Scotland the chance of winning the ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy with a day to spare but they were defeated by Netherlands by 27 runs to keep the competition alive with the top four teams all able to be crowned champions on the last day.

It always looked likely that day six of the Emerging Nations Trophy would prove decisive as there were two contests between teams standing in the top four places in the table. Second-placed Thailand faced third-placed UAE followed by leaders Scotland who were playing fourth-placed Netherlands.

Thailand had convincingly beaten UAE in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asian Qualifier in May on the same ground when they batted first so it was surprising that they chose to take the field on winning the toss especially since they had twice lost to UAE in recent years when chasing low totals as their batters failed to master the UAE bowlers.

All had started well for Thailand thanks to some typical brilliance in the field as Chanida Sutthiruang took a fine slip catch to dismiss Esha Oza while Naruemol Chaiwai claimed an equally good catch running back at mid-on to dismiss Rinitha Rajith. UAE continued to struggle with the bat as Thipatcha Putthawong returned figures of 4-2-7-1 and three bowlers, Phannita Maya, Sunida Chaturongrattana and Onnicha Kamchouphu took two wickets apiece to bowl out UAE for 80 in exactly 20 overs.

Thailand should have been confident to chase a target of just 81 except that twice had been unable to overcome totals of 70 posted by UAE. They fell just short after leg-spinner Vaishave Mahesh collected three wickets on both occasions.

Nattaya Boochatham was the only one of the top five batters to reach double figures as this time the UAE had five spinners to bowl their 20 overs as Thailand collapsed to 32 for five.

The wickets continued to fall but Suwanan Khiato had been selected to bolster the batting and it looked as if she could see Thailand to victory especially when she hit a six and a four as 14 runs came from the 18^th over. Thailand were 67 for 8 and needed 14 runs from the last two overs.

Esha Oza had been in tears on this ground less than six months before when UAE lost out to Thailand and Nepal in the 2025 Asian Qualifier but she took the crucial wicket as Suwanan was caught at mid-off for 24 and finished with figures of 3 for 12. Thailand finished seven runs short as they were bowled out for 73 and it was Vaishnave Mahesh who was again the main destroyer as she claimed 4 for 10 as she bowled her leg-breaks and googlies with great control.

Great disappointment for Thailand who must have felt their chances of winning the tournament had now disappeared. In fact, the story of the day was not over by any means with Netherlands facing unbeaten Scotland and a win for the Dutch girls would mean that they would join Thailand and UAE on eight points with all three teams having won four matches. In contrast, a victory for Scotland would be enough for them to win the Emerging Nations Trophy with a day to spare.

Netherlands chose to bat first and again posted an impressive total having reached 164 in their previous match. Iris Zwilling was out second ball but Phebe Molkenboer and Babette de Leede batted confidently in the powerplay so that the impressive Sterre Kalis came to the wicket with runs on the board.

Molkenboer was third out for 32 from 34 balls with six fours but Kalis was able to bat through until the end of the innings as she stroked 55 from 44 balls with nine fours to enable Netherlands to reach 148 for 6 despite Rachel Slater returning figures of 3 for 22.

Darcey Carter has been in excellent form so far but she was out in the first over for just 4 but Katherine Fraser and Sarah Bryce shared a second-wicket partnership of 68 as Scotland reached 72 for 2 after 10 overs until Fraser fell for 39 from 32 balls with 7 fours. Bryce was third out for 31 from 30 balls with 4 fours and the required run-rate started to rise as the wickets continued to fall.

45 runs were needed from the last four overs with six wickets left but that had turned into 30 required from the last over as the eighth wicket was lost to the first ball. Opening bowler Iris Zwilling claimed 3 for 19 and spinners Frederique Overdijk and Caroline de Lange both took two wickets as Scotland managed 121 for 8. Netherlands gained their fourth win to join Thailand and UAE on eight points but Scotland now needed to win on the last day to secure the trophy.

The morning match at AIT was a battle between two African sides as Uganda beat Tanzania by seven wickets as Tanzania were bowled out for 54 as they suffered no fewer than four run outs. Ester Iloko made an unbeaten 28 as Uganda gained their second win of the tournament with 7.3 overs to spare.

The last match of the day to finish saw Papua New Guinea hold on to beat Namibia by just one run after needing six to win from the last over as Yasmeen Khan was run out for 30 off the last ball as she attempted the bye which would have brought a super over. Brenda Tau also made 30 in PNG’s innings of 94 for 7 and Pauke Siaka claimed 3 for 15 as Namibia came up just short in the chase, to give PNG their third win of the tournament.

The inaugural ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy is now set for the most exciting finish imaginable with four teams able to become champions. If Netherlands and UAE win their morning matches, and then Thailand overcome Scotland in the afternoon, all four teams would be level on 10 points and the winners would be decided on net run-rate.

On Sunday every single run scored will count.