THAILAND WOMEN CONTINUE TO IMPRESS BUT MEN STILL STRUGGLE

THAILAND WOMEN CONTINUE TO IMPRESS BUT MEN STILL STRUGGLE

Contrasting fortunes for the two Thai teams as cricket returned on day seven of SEA Games Thailand 2025.  The women’s team started their bid to win the Women’s T20 gold with a convincing nine-wicket victory over Myanmar at TCG but the men lost to Indonesia and Philippines on a busy day as the men’s T10 competition started at AIT.

Myanmar women chose to bat first and were soon in trouble but at least they recovered from 40 for 8 to bat out their overs. A target of 76 has caused problems for Thailand’s batters in the past but not on this occasion as they used the positive approach. Thailand hit a total of 16 fours to reach 76 for one in 5.1 overs as Natthakan Chantam hit 36 from just 14 balls.

Thailand men scored 70 for 7 in 10 overs against Indonesia but even losing three wickets in one over could not stop Indonesia as Ahmad Ramdoni saw them home to victory by seven wickets in the ninth over.

The second men’s T10 match of the day was very exciting as Malaysia faced Philippines. There were two fabulous individual performances for Philippines as Daniel Smith made 49 from 27 balls out of a total of 83 for 7 and then Kepler Lukies took a hat-trick with his left-arm spin. Virandeep Singh stayed firm as he steered the T20 men’s gold medallists home by four wickets with just one ball to spare.

The third match of the day in men’s T10 saw Singapore beat Indonesia by 17 runs. Mahiyu Bhatia hit 34 as Singapore reached 78 for 8 with Denilson Hawoe and Gede Arta each taking 3 for 15. Indonesia’s first eight batters were all dismissed in single figures but they finished on a total of 61 for 8.

In the final men’s T10 contest of the busiest day in the SEA Games cricket schedule, Thailand made a brilliant start to their match against Philippines as Wirophan Ngowhuad took two wickets in the second over and Sawarut Maliwan took the third wicket with the score on just eight.

Philippines have already won a silver medal in T20 cricket and fought hard earlier in the day against Malaysia so it was no surprise they recovered to 87 for 4. This total proved just too much for Thailand to chase as they suffered another narrow defeat as they lost by four runs despite 35 from Narawit Nantarach. Thailand men have now lost all six of their matches at SEA Games 2025.

The second match in the women’s T20 competition at TCG saw an entertaining match between Malaysia and Indonesia with the Malaysians for once getting the better of their rivals at the SEA Games.

Malaysia made 128 for 7 thanks to Winifred Duraisingam’s 50 from 46 balls but fellow opener Maria Corazon more than matched her with 51 from 36 balls for Indonesia.

Elsa Hunter has arrived from the Women’s Big Bash in Australia and although she failed with the bat, she played a decisive role in Malaysia’s victory as she returned figures of 5 for 9. Indonesia finished on 110 for 9:and Malaysia won a high-scoring contest by 18 runs.

Day eight of SEA Games cricket will see more men’s T10 and women’s T20 action.