Series: Thailand in Zimbabwe Aug 2021
Venue: Harare Sports Club
Format: List A
Toss: Zimbabwe
Result: Zimbabwe by 5 wickets
Zimbabwe Bounce Back with Fire
A comprehensive victory for Zimbabwe against Thailand in the third 50 over match of the series, now leading 2-1 with one to play.
The home team came out with far greater purpose in this match, perhaps stung by their loss to Thailand two days ago. Everything clicked for captain Mary-Anne Musonda after she won the toss and send Thailand in to bat.
Nomvelo Sibanda (2-48) began with a maiden over and this was followed by a wicket maiden for Josephine Nkomo 3-42 when she removed Suleeporn Laomi for a duck, the second time in two matches. Two balls later Nkomo struck again, removing Wongpaka Liengprasert leaving Thailand 0/2. Meanwhile Nattaya Boochatham was struggling to score. Sibanda put her out of her misery when the opener offered a sharp chance to slip which Musonda gobbled up. Thailand 11/3.
The Zimbabwe bowlers continued their destructive ways when Nkomo trapped Nannapat Koncharoenkai in front leaving Thailand 12/4. It got worse. Sibanda wasn’t finished. The left armer removed Natthakan Chantham with an excellent caught and bowled dismissal. Half of Thailand’s batting were in the shed with just 14 runs on the board.
Cometh the hour, cometh the woman. The Thailand skipper, Naruemol Chaiwai must have felt very alone at the crease. All of her big guns had been dismissed and she was left to try and manufacture some sort of a total with the tail. There was a calmness about her demeanour as she went about her task. She had a good ally in Sornnarin Tippoch (27), a street-smart cricketer who seldom gives her wicket cheaply, and the two put on a 70 run partnership to breath life into the innings. Tippoch’s dismissal left Thailand 84/6 and didn’t progress much further with Onnicha Kamchomphu the seventh wicket to fall at 102.
What followed was the captain guiding and encouraging the eighteen year old Thipatcha Putthawong (20*) who played with confidence and stuck with Chaiwai until the end giving some semblance of hope with 189/7 after 50 overs. For the captain, a maiden century, in fact a maiden century for Thailand, for Naruemol Chaiwai is the first player from that team to reach triple figures. It was in every sense of the word, a captain’s knock.
A ray of hope for Thailand after Phannita Maya removed Ashley Ndiraya for a duck, but it was short lived. Modester Mupachikwa (52) joined Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano (54) and the pair put on a well made partnership of 106 before Mupichikwa was trapped in front by Nattaya Boochatham. The pair had laid the platform for a Zimbabwe victory.
Mary-Anne Musonda (47) continued her good form and was unlucky not to reach her third successive half century. Zimbabwe passed the visitor’s total with 5 wickets in hand in the 44th over. It leaves the series in favour of the hosts 2-1 with one match to play.
Scores:
Thailand 189/7 (Naruemol Chaiwai 100*, Josephine Nkomo 3-42) 50 overs
Zimbabwe 192/5 (Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano 54, Modester Mupachikwa 52, Mary-Anne Musonda 47) 43.3 overs
Player of the Match: not announced