Ireland favourites against spunky Thailand

Overview

Ireland Women v Thailand Women
Kampong Cricket Club, Utrecht
Match 1, WWT20Q 2018
Saturday, 7 July, 10:00 GMT, 12:00 local

Till a few days ago, this might have qualified as a no-contest. But Thailand have just beaten Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup, and that makes them a team with spirit, spunk, and no little skill. And a force to reckon with in the eight-team qualifying tournament for the ICC Women’s World T20 2018.

“It’s the best game I’ve been involved in and my proudest moment,” said Sornnarin Tippoch, the Thailand captain, of that day in Kuala Lumpur, 9 June, when Thailand pulled off a last-ball win – their first win over a Full Member.

“We didn’t know how it had happened when we finished. We were just thinking about playing 100 per cent, play our shots, play our game. We bowled well, we didn’t drop many catches, and when we batted, we had partnerships. It was very exciting.”

It certainly was, one of the great results in the game in recent times, and that makes Tippoch’s team confident at the qualifiers. They have been training with the Under-19 boys back at home, and in Naruemol Chaiwai, the opener, and Wongpaka Liengprasert, the off-spinner, there are at least two quality players in the team.

Chaiwai scored 43 in that win over Sri Lanka, while Liengprasert returned 5/12 against a strong Sri Lankan line-up.

More recently, in the warm-up game against the home side prior to the qualifiers in the Netherlands, Thailand were excellent in a 46-run win. Chaiwai was the top scorer again with a 47-ball 39, while the wickets were shared around by a clinical bowling attack.

That should add to their confidence, but Ireland are a strong side, with a lot of experience and a No.10 spot in the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s Team Rankings.

With the Joyce sisters Isobel and Cecelia, skipper Laura Delany, Kim Garth, and a host of other respected hands, Ireland are a formidable side, and are exuding confidence after beating Asia Cup winners Bangladesh off the last ball in the final game of their three-match series the other day.

They lost the series 2-1, but the 97-run stand between the in-form Gaby Lewis (50) and Delany (46), and Isobel Joyce’s finishing job with an unbeaten 14-ball 22 were positive signs.

They built on it with a straightforward eight-wicket win over Papua New Guinea in a warm-up tie, Lewis again leading the way with a 40-ball 56*, and should back themselves to ward off the Thailand threat first up.

Key players

Gaby Lewis (Ireland): The 17-year-old batter has been in great form of late. She has an average of 20.84 from 15 T20Is, much of her 271 runs scored recently in the series against Bangladesh. Also a handy leg-spinner, Lewis can provide breakthroughs at crucial times.

Wongpaka Liengprasert (Thailand): The 24-year-old off-spinner finished fourth in the wicket-takers’ chart at the Asia Cup, picking up nine wickets overall at a cost of 42 runs. Those have been her only international appearances, but the signs are good, and the performance against Sri Lanka would have given her loads of confidence.

Squads

Thailand: Somnarin Tippoch (c), Nattaya Boochatham, Naruemol Chaiwai, Natthakan Chantham, Onnicha Khamchomphu, Rosenanee Kanoh, Nannapat Koncharonkai, Suleeporn Laomi, Wongpaka Liengprasert, Rattanaporn Padunglerd, Srinitra Saengsakaorat, Sainamin Saenya, Chanida Sutthiruang and Arriya Yenyueak.

Ireland: Laura Delany (c), Kim Garth, Cecelia Joyce, Isobel Joyce, Shauna Kavanagh, Gaby Lewis, Lara Maritz, Ciara Metcalfe, Cara Murray, Lucy O'Reilly, Eimear Richardson, Clare Shillington, Rebecca Stokell, Mary Waldron.