Pakistan survive Thailand scare to reach Asian Games semis

In a shortened match at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Pakistan defeated Thailand by three wickets in their Asian Games quarterfinal match. Pakistan fell behind after chasing 92 in 11 overs and needed 44 to win in the final four overs before skipper Fatima Sana's 21-run cameo turned the tide in their favor and secured a spot in the semifinals.

After the game was reduced to 11 overs due to a wet outfield, Pakistan had previously decided to field first. Sana emerged the pick of the bowlers too, the first of her two wickets coming in the second over as Pakistan kept things tight in the first half of the innings. Nannapat Koncharoenkai hit consecutive fours during Umm-e-Hani's 14-run seventh over, which gave Thailand the lead.

Phannita Maya meandered along to 15 off 16 and was retired out with two overs to go - a move that worked as skipper Naruemol Chaiwai struck a six and a four off her first two balls. She fell immediately after and Koncharoenkai added another four in the final over before being trapped in front by Sana for 49. However, her knock ensured Thailand's competitive final score of 91.

Shawaal Zulfiqar got off to a quick start in the chase, picking up three boundaries and a six off the first three overs, by the end of which Pakistan wiped 33 runs off the target. However, Zulfiqar’s dismissal in the fourth stunted their progress as offspinner Onnicha Kamchomphu rocked the chase with a three-wicket haul. Suleeporn Laomi conceded just three runs off her two overs while accounting for Ayesha Zafar and suddenly, the asking rate spiked to 11.

That’s when Sana attacked Kamchomphu for three fours and a six, before Eyman Fatima slammed a six of her own in a 25-run over. After Eyman's dismissal in the final over, things got even more interesting after Sana's wicket threw a wrench in Pakistan's plans. But Tuba Hassan put the chase to bed with a six and a four, her dismissal proving to be in vain for Thailand, whose valiant fight did not suffice. Pakistan then did it in singles with four runs required off the final over, getting through with two balls to spare.