Pakistan Beat Thailand by 35 Runs at T20 Asia Cup, Eliminate Them From Tournament

A world record went almost unnoticed inside a Pakistan win. Thipatcha Putthawong became the leading wicket-taker in women’s T20I history during Thailand’s defeat to Pakistan at the Asia Cup, passing Deepti Sharma’s tally with a double-wicket over in just the second over of the match. Pakistan won by 35 runs anyway, and the result eliminated Thailand from the tournament with their second defeat in three games.

Putthawong’s record deserved better than a footnote. She had Shawaal Zulfiqar caught at point off the second ball of her over, then trapped Gull Feroza at fine leg four balls later for wicket number 172, moving past Deepti Sharma. She finished the innings with 3 for 18 from her four overs, taking her career tally to 173 T20I wickets at an average of 9.17.

Fatima Sana’s Toss Gamble

Sana won the toss and chose to bat on a pitch that was staying low, a decision that raised eyebrows given Pakistan’s recent record of batting collapses. Putthawong’s early double-wicket over made it look worse before it made it look right. Pakistan finished the powerplay at 32 for 3.

Sana had hoped for something closer to 150. Pakistan managed 119 for 9, and it was enough only because Thailand had no batting answer of their own.

Muneeba Battled the Heat as Much as the Bowling

Muneeba Ali scored 54 off 52 balls, her fourth T20I half-century, but the Dubai heat was as much a factor as anything Thailand bowled. She dropped to her haunches between overs to catch her breath and was tended to by the team physio mid-innings before continuing to bat through the death overs. She was eventually stumped off Suleeporn Laomi in the 17th over.

Sadaf Shamas, in the squad only after an injury to Najiha Alvi, put together a run-a-ball 20 and shared a 54-run stand with Muneeba that held the innings together. Both fell to Laomi, who took 3 for 14 and twice struck twice in an over, including a diving catch off her own bowling to remove Sana for a second-ball duck.

Tuba Hassan’s Four Balls Made the Difference

The average first-innings total at this Dubai venue in women’s T20Is is 118. Pakistan finished on 119, one run above it, entirely because of Tuba Hassan‘s unbeaten 12 off just four balls at the death, including a six over square leg.

Without that cameo, Pakistan’s below-par innings does not even reach the venue average, and the match looks very different.

Sadia Iqbal Ended the Chase Before It Began

Thailand’s chase died in almost identical fashion to Pakistan’s powerplay. Sadia Iqbal removed Phannita Maya and Nannapat Koncharoenkai in the second over of the run-chase, a double-wicket maiden that mirrored Putthawong’s opening burst. Both matches’ defining overs ended on the second and last ball, a strange symmetry across the two innings.

Nashra Sandhu conceded just six runs in four overs after the powerplay, tightening the innings further. Sadia returned for the final over and took a third wicket to finish with 3 for 11.

Full Bowling: Pakistan vs Thailand

Bowler	O	M	R	W	Econ
Sadia Iqbal	4	1	11	3	2.75
Nashra Sandhu	4	1	6	1	1.50
Tuba Hassan	4	0	17	2	4.25
Fatima Sana	4	0	22	1	5.50
Umm-e-Hani	3	0	15	0	5.00
Ayesha Zafar	1	0	8	0	8.00

Full Bowling: Thailand vs Pakistan

Bowler	O	M	R	W	Econ
Thipatcha Putthawong	4	1	18	3	4.50
Suleeporn Laomi	4	0	14	3	3.50
Phannita Maya	4	0	34	2	8.50
Sunida Chaturongrattana	4	0	23	1	5.75
Onnicha Kamchomphu	4	0	29	0	7.25

Why Pakistan’s Below-Par Total Still Wasn’t Tested

Thailand beat Pakistan at the 2022 Asia Cup. That history made this win worth having beyond the group table. But Pakistan’s batting still managed only 119 against a side they eliminated from the tournament, saved by four balls from a No. 9 batter and a Dubai pitch too slow for anyone to trust their shots.

India, next on Saturday, will not offer the same margin for error.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who broke the women’s T20I wicket-taking record during Pakistan vs Thailand? Thipatcha Putthawong of Thailand passed Deepti Sharma to become the leading wicket-taker in women’s T20I history, reaching 172 wickets in the second over before finishing the match on 173.

Did Pakistan’s win eliminate Thailand from the Asia Cup? Yes. The defeat was Thailand’s second in three matches, ending their campaign in the tournament.

Who top-scored for Pakistan against Thailand? Muneeba Ali with 54 off 52 balls, her fourth T20I half-century.

What made the difference in Pakistan’s total? Tuba Hassan’s unbeaten 12 off four balls at the death pushed Pakistan one run above the venue’s average first-innings score of 118.