WORLD CUP DEBUT
Thailand give West Indies a scare at T20 event
>> PERTH: Captain Stafanie Taylor’s all-round display helped West Indies survive a scare against debutants Thailand in their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 opener yesterday.
Thailand chose to bat first on their global debut but struggled to score heavily at the WACA, leaving teenage keeper-batter Nannapat Khoncharoenkai to step up and anchor the innings with 33 from 48 balls.
West Indies held their Group B opponents to 78 for 9 with her three wickets, but Thailand’s fielding strength came to the fore with Lee-Ann Kirby, Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin all departing before the seventh over to spark thoughts of an upset.
Taylor and Shemaine Campbelle stayed firm, though, and their unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership of 53 sealed a seven-wicket win with 3.2 overs to spare.
Thailand were quickly troubled by the WACA pace, with Nattaya Boochatham caught at mid-off off Chinelle Henry while Shamila Connell had other opener Natthakan Chantham caught behind.
Having restricted the debutants to 12 for 2 in four overs, Henry continued for a third successive over. Nannapat soon found her groove and pulled a full toss to the boundary.
It was an impressive yet calm performance from the 19-yearold, who stabilised the innings. Her 35-run partnership with Naruemol Chaiwai (13) came to an end after seven overs when Aaliyah Alleyne caught the latter at mid-off off Anisa Mohammed.
Matthews took her first scalp when she had Chanida Sutthiruang caught and bowled for 3 while Taylor dismissed opposite number Sornnarin Tippoch for just 1.
The wickets fell around Nannapat with Taylor bagging a second when Kirby dived and snaffled Onnicha Kamchomphu, in at No.7, for a duck. With two overs remaining, Nannapat tried to hit Afy Fletcher over the top and ended up giving Kirby a catch.
Chasing 79, West Indies were dealt an early blow when Kirby’s international comeback ended prematurely. Naruemol producing the play of the day with a quick pick-up and direct hit to claim her country’s first Women’s T20 World
Cup wicket.
Soraya Lateh clean bowled Matthews for 16 for her first international victim. It got even better for Thailand when Dottin was run out by Suleeporn Laomi to leave West Indies on 27 for 3. But Taylor (26 not out) and Campbelle (25 not out) steer their team to victory.