Women's Asia Cup 2022: India annihilate Thailand to proceed to the final

India have booked their berth into the finals (Source: Twitter)

The first semifinal of the ongoing Women's Asia Cup saw a rampant Indian outfit defeat Thailand comprehensively by 74 runs in Sylhet. Indian Women proceed to the Asia Cup final for the eighth consecutive time with this stunning victory. 

A superb collective batting effort powers India to 148

After being put into bat, India got off to a flying start, as Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana added 38 runs in just 4.3 overs, before the latter was dismissed for 13 by Phannita Maya. However, India kept scoring at a brisk pace, courtesy of fantastic knocks from Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. 

While Verma amassed 42 runs at a blistering strike rate of 150, Rodrigues and Kaur chipped in with the vital contributions of 27 and 36 runs, respectively. 

Pooja Vastrakar's quick-fire 17-run cameo took India to a respectable total of 148. Sornnarin Tippoch was the pick of the bowlers from Thailand, scalping three wickets for 24 runs. 

Deepti Sharma's spectacular three-fer seizes the day for India

In response, Thailand never looked in control during the chase against a formidable Indian bowling unit. Although skipper Naruemol Chaiwai scored 21 runs, she consumed 41 deliveries for it, which significantly increased the required run rate. 

Nattaya Boochatham, too, contributed 21 runs, but at a sloth-paced rate. None of the remaining batters could put up a fight, as Thailand finished at 74 for nine at the end of twenty overs. 

Deepti Sharma starred with the ball for India, picking three crucial wickets upfront. Her magical spell, which triggered Thailand's collapse, read 4-1-7-3. 

Brief Scores

India Women: 148/6 (20)
Shafali Verma 42 (28), Harmanpreet Kaur 36 (30);
Sornnarin Tippoch 3/24 (4), Phannita Maya 1/12 (1)

Thailand Women: 74/9 (20)
Nattaya Boochatham 21 (29), Naruemol Chaiwai 21 (41);
Deepti Sharma 3/7 (4), Rajeshwari Gaekwad 2/10 (4)

India Women won by 74 runs. 

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