New Delhi:
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur delivered a scintillating all-round performance as the Indian women’s cricket team beat Thailand by 66 runs in the Asia Cup T20 tournament in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.
After winning the toss, Thailand made India bat first, in which India scored a total of 132/4 in 20 over before restricting Thailand to 66/8 to bag a second successive big win. India continue to rule the top of the points table in the six-nation tournament.
Earlier, the Indian team hammered hosts Malaysia by 142 runs in its opening match, continued their dominant run in the tournament.
The top order put a solid display with Mona Meshram’s 45-ball 32 being the top score. However, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s cameo of unbeaten 27 runs steered India to a fighting total.
Kaur's knock was laced with three hits to the fence. Smriti Mandhana too continued her fine form for a 22-ball 29, which included one four and a couple of sixes.
Kaur than did the job with the ball as well, grabbing three wickets with her off-spin, yielding a mere 11 runs in three overs. Kaur's superb all-round performance fetched her the Player of the Match award.
Deepti Sharma also picked up a couple of wickets in her four overs, which went for a mere 16 runs.
For Thailand, Nattaya Boochatham top-scored with a 40-ball 21 but the slow knock was hardly what the team needed in the slam-bang format.
The Thai team just could not break free during the chase, shackled by an accurate Indian bowling attack.
After a rest day tomorrow, India will take on Bangladesh in their third match of the tournament.
Brief Scores:
India: 132/4 in 20 overs (Mona Meshram 32, Harmanpreet Kaur 27 not out, Wongpaka Liengprasert 2/16).
Thailand: 66/8 in 20 overs (Nattaya Boochatham 21, Harmanpreet Kaur 3/11, Deepti Sharma 2/16).
