ACC U-19 Women's Championship 2008

Thailand Vs Hong Kong

Match: Thailand Vs Hong Kong
Played At: Gymkhana, Chiang Mai
Date: 16th December 2008

Toss Won by: Thailand (Elected to field)

Umpires:Liu Jingmin & Shailendra Raj Nepal
Match Referee: Martin Papworth

Scorers: Helen Green & Hamidah Ramlan

Weather Conditions: Sunny

CAT Match Report

Thailand won an important toss, not only are they a good chasing side, overnight dew made the outfield particularly heavy and it hampered Hong Kong's early strokeplay. Only Keenu Gill was able to find the ropes and it took three strokes of close to perfect timing to do so. Gill's duel with her opposite captain, Naruemol Chaiwai was a particular highlight of the day. Chaiwai with her gentle outswingers had Gill beaten thrice in one over, at the start of her next, Gill played the shot of the day, as she shimmied down the track to hit Chaiwai all along the ground to the long-of boundary.

Thailand fielded exceptionally well but for one dropped catch early on. The run-out of Dominique McCusker by Kaewkan Mongsomai at mid-on was excellent and the catch taken by her to dismiss Keenu Gill off a hard-hit drive ensured that Hong Kong would not post a total Thailand hadn't chased down before.    

Hong Kong had the same close-in field, everyone but third man no more than ten yards from the bat when Thailand in but Thailand's batters not only hit the ball hard, they hit in the air too. Whenever they did, they got away with it just enough. Hong Kong had enough chances to dismiss Thailand twice. In between the chances, half-chances and runs were scrambled, poached and winkled out. It was their day.

Siwaporn, a tall, powerful left-hander, hit two consecutive fours off Hong Kong talisman Chan Sau Har to ease the pressure after the loss of the second Thai wicket but it was an absolute arm-wrestle of a match with both sides inching ahead only to be pulled back soon after they did so. Thailand lost two wickets on 49, Siwaporn and the captain Chaiwai. Big wickets they were too.

Gill remained the most threatening and as she came up to bowl her last over from the Nong Hoi End Thailand needed just 4 runs to win, with three wickets remaining. A single came off the first, Nanthakan hit the fourth ball into the safe hands of McCusker at mid-on.

The next over.  The pace of McCusker from the Clubhouse End. No. 9 Pimpika Jindaka hit to Yasmin Daswani cover and was dropped. Her partner backing up, was run out by Daswani's direct hit, her bat in the air over the crease.

74 for 9 at the start of the next over. Hong Kong's main bowlers all bowled out, with five overs each. The part-timer Jaswinder Kaur came on. Her first ball, a no-ball, was swung to square-leg by Pimpika, two were needed at that stage with the ball, batsmen and fielders all in motion. Two Hong Kong fielders chased the ball all the way to the boundary.  

Local girl Pimpika had done it. Thailand won by one wicket. A truly significant victory.

Full Scorecard

Photos

THAILAND U-19'S WOMEN'S DELIGHTED AFTER THERE VICTORY

THAILAND U-19'S WOMEN'S CAPTAIN NARUEMOL CHAIWAI CRYING IN HAPPINESS AFTER THE WIN

THAILAND U-19'S WOMEN'S pORNTHIVA OLARAKCHAT PLAYER OF THE MATCH