Series: Thailand in Zimbabwe Aug 2021
Venue: Harare Sports Club
Format: List A
Toss: Thailand
Result: Thailand by 22 runs
Thailand Create Their Own Piece of History
An historic day for Thailand after they defeated Zimbabwe by 22 runs in the second one day match at Harare. It was their first victory in a 50 over match.
After winning the toss, Thailand captain, Naruemol Chaiwai elected to bat but were in immediate trouble when Josephine Nkomo (5-35) broke through in the second over of the innings, bowling Suleeporn Laomi for a duck. Wongpaka Liengprasert (51) joined Nattaya Boochatham (54) in an entertaining partnership of 92 and it was against the run of play when Chiedza Dhururu smartly stumped the latter from the bowling of Nomvelo Sibanda (2-38) when the score was 98.
The runs continued flow as the Thailand team displayed a more aggressive intent with the bat than in game one. Natthakan Chantham 42, Chanida Sutthiruang (25) and even the captain with 28 not out when the innings ended all took the team total to 229/9. Nkomo was outstanding and Sibanda was accurate, both coinstantly asking questions of the batters.
As in game one, a good opening stand by Zimbabwe, this time 44 before Christabel Chatonzwa (11) was smartly caught and bowled by Onnicha Kamchomphu (1-25. One down became two when Modester Mupachikwa fell for a duck and became even worse when Nattaya Boochatham (5-33) removed Ashley Ndiraya for 31. The score remained the same and it was 44/3.
The ever reliable middle order pairing of Mary-Anne Musonda (50) and Josephine Nkomo (38) steadied the ship with an 83 run partnership before the latter was dismissed by Suleeporn Laomi. At 127/4 it felt as though the hard work had been done and Zimbabwe could cruise to victory but some inspired bowling by the Thais put paid to that.
Once Musonda had been dismissed with the score at 153/6 the lower order batters struggled to maintain the momentum and every time they put their foot down a wicket be the result. The right-arm medium pace of Nattaya Boochatham coupled with intelligent bowling from Sornnarin Tippoch (1-22) strangled the scoring rate and made the chase impossible, with Zimbabwe finishing on 207/9.
It was team effort, a concentrated drive with bat and ball, giving Thailand their first victory in 50 over cricket. The two outstanding player for the match were Thailand’s Nattaya Boochatham (54, 5-33) and Zimbabwe’s Josephine Nkomo (38, 5-35). The series now stands at 1-1.
Scores:
Thailand 229/9 ( Nattaya Boochatham 54, Wongpaka Liengprasert 51, Natthakan Chantham 42, Josephine Nkomo 5-35, Nomvelo Sibanda 2-38) 50 overs
Zimbabwe 207/9 (Mary-Anne Musonda 50, Josephine Nkomo 38, Nattaya Boochatham 5-33 ) 50 overs
Player of the Match: not announced