THAILAND WIN THE ICC WOMEN’S EMERGING NATIONS TROPHY ON A DRAMATIC FINAL DAY

THAILAND WIN THE ICC WOMEN’S EMERGING NATIONS TROPHY ON A DRAMATIC FINAL DAY

Thailand have been crowned the inaugural winners of the ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy after a remarkable last day on which four teams each topped the table at certain stages. Scotland had been leaders in the table at the start of the day, Netherlands overtook then on beating Uganda, UAE were the next leaders when they defeated Namibia but it was Thailand who finished the tournament at the top of the table as they bowled out Scotland for 63 and chased the target in 11.4 overs. 

Most often ICC tournaments end in a blaze of glory with the two leading teams facing each other in a showcase final as happened when India beat South Africa in the final at Navi Mumbai to win the recent 50-over Women’s World Cup. Today saw a finale where the top four teams could have all won the inaugural ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy as the leading teams at Associate Member level have been evenly matched and have produced some thrilling cricket throughout the tournament.

Crucially Thailand and Scotland had both lost their matches on Friday as first UAE and then Netherlands both showed they were formidable outfits with some outstanding individual players. Thailand would have been thinking of the upcoming head-to-head against Scotland as they lost to UAE while Scotland would have already won the new trophy with a match to spare had they beaten Netherlands.

All Scotland needed to do today was to beat Thailand at AIT but for the other three teams who were level on eight points in the table it would be a question of net run-rate. Netherlands faced Uganda at TCG and UAE played Namibia at AIT so the morning matches were crucial as Netherlands and UAE tried to improve their net run-rate by winning by a considerable margin whether batting first or chasing.

Hosts Thailand would then be given a target that would keep their net run-rate above the other teams but for Scotland it would just be a question of beating Thailand to be declared the leading team at Women’s Associate Member level. The individual awards would also be decided with Darcey Carter of Scotland, Sterre Kalis of Netherlands, Vishnave Mahesh of UAE and Sunida Chaturongrattana of Thailand leading the way, and there was always the outstanding Esha Oza likely to contribute a match-winning performance for UAE.

It was set to be one of the most exciting days in the history of women’s cricket and exactly what ICC would have hoped for when they established this new tournament to improve standards amongst their leading women’s associate members.

Netherlands were first to finish at TCG after they had asked Uganda to bat first. They restricted Uganda to 111 for 6 in their 20 overs but would have to  deal with a testing target. Sterre Kalis made 32 but it was Robine Rijke who was there at the end on 36* as Netherlands won by six wickets with 5.1 overs to spare.

This was enough to take Netherlands to 10 points and they went ahead of Scotland on net run-rate and were top of the table for a short time before United Arab Emirates completed their victory over Namibia at AIT. UAE had also won the toss but chose to bat first and it was their openers Esha Oza and Theertha Satish who set them on their way to success with a partnership of 114 in 14.4 overs as Oza made 68 from 49 balls and Satish an unbeaten 57 from 52 balls.

UAE made a total of 153 for 3 which looked certain to be a match-winning total especially when Namibia collapsed to 63 for 7 but the last five overs saw some fantastic hitting from Wilka Mwatile who made 54* from 34 balls with six fours and a six as Namibia made 62 from their last five overs to finish on 125 for 7.

UAE had won by 28 runs and overtaken Scotland and Netherlands to take first place in the table but their net run-rate was not now insurmountable for Thailand and of course Scotland would win the competition if they could win the afternoon contest at AIT.

This was the crucial contest on which the competition would be decided as Scotland decided to bat first hoping that they could make a sizeable total but it was not to be as the Scots lost wicket after wicket against the Thailand spinners.

Left-arm spinner Thipatcha Putthawong took 4 for 17 as she bowled an opening spell of four overs as she dismissed the top-order to reduce Scotland to 30 for 5. Leg-spinner Suleeporn Laomi then took wickets with her first two balls and Scotland were 47 for 7. Suleeporn finished with 3 for 11 and she got the last wicket with a run out as she has been brilliant in the field throughout the tournament.

Scotland had been bowled out for 63 in 15.1 overs so Thailand had a golden opportunity to go to the top of the table on net run-rate if they could chase down a target of 64 in less than 13.3 overs.

A relatively simple task on paper but not for the Thailand batters when they are chasing a low target as time after time they have fallen just short. Here again today the wickets were falling quickly as a succession of batters were caught inside the circle as they attempted to clear the fielders. Olivia Bell took 5 for 8 but at least Natthakan Chantham managed to hit 16 from 9 balls.

Captain Naruemol Chaiwai remained calm to reach 17 from 21 balls but it was left to Onnicha Kampchomphu to hit the winning runs as she hit the only ball she faced for six to give Thailand a nerve-wracking victory by three wickets.

Thailand finished at the top of the table thanks to their superior net run-rate as UAE were second, Netherlands third and Scotland fourth with all five teams locked on 10 points with five victories and two defeats apiece. Thailand had won the first edition of the ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy.

Papua New Guinea won the last match of the day as they beat Tanzania by 20 runs as they defended a total of 100 by restricting the African side to 80 for 8. Henao Thomas made 47 before Pauke Siaka returned figures of 3 for 10. PNG had managed to win four of their seven matches including a win over champions Thailand and they finished fifth.

The individual awards were shared out as Darcey Carter won batter of the tournament with 248 runs and Thipatcha Putthawong won bowler of the tournament with 15 wickets, but the all-round player of the tournament was awarded to Esha Oza for scoring 187 runs and taking seven wickets.

The ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy had been a great success with the best Associate Member sides playing a succession of closely contested matches as ICC sought to improve standards among the leading Associate Members.