Pakistan complete tense chase to reach Asian Games semi-final

Pakistan survived a major scare from Thailand to reach the women’s Asian Games semi-finals with a three-wicket win in a rain-reduced quarter-final in Nisshin.

Chasing 92 from 11 overs, Pakistan slipped to 47 for 4 before a 25-run over turned the contest in their favour. They eventually reached the target with two balls to spare.

The match had already been delayed by almost two hours because of a wet outfield, with Pakistan opting to bowl after the toss. The reduced powerplay lasted just 3.2 overs, during which captain Fatima Sana struck early to remove experienced opener Natthakan Chantham.

Nannapat Koncharoenkai then took charge for Thailand, finding boundaries around the ground and building a partnership with captain Naruemol Chaiwai. Koncharoenkai accelerated after the sixth over, hitting back-to-back fours off Umm-e-Hani in a 14-run over.

She moved to within one run of a half-century in the final over, but Sana ended her innings at 49 from 38 balls, trapping her in front with a full delivery.

Sana finished with 2 for 22, while Nashra Sandhu claimed the other key wicket of Chaiwai as Thailand posted a competitive 91 for 4.

Pakistan’s chase began in a very different fashion. Shawaal Zulfiqar raced away with three fours and a six in the opening three overs, but Thailand hit back spectacularly.

Four Pakistan wickets fell for just 11 runs in 14 balls - Zulfiqar (25 off 14) handed a return catch to offspinner Onnicha Kamchomphu, Ayesha Zafar fell for one, Gull Feroza was stumped for 16 after stepping out against Kamchomphu, and Aliya Riaz was also caught off the same bowler.

Pakistan had crashed from 36 for 0 to 47 for 4 and suddenly needed 45 from 30 balls.

With the chase slipping away, Sana took matters into her own hands. She went down on one knee to hit couple of boundaries and a maximum through the leg side before a chance at long-off went down, with the misfield bringing another boundary. Eyman Fatima then finished the over with a six, making it a 25-run over and leaving Pakistan needing 19 from 18 balls.

Sana fell at the start of the next over after adding 21 from 13 balls, but Pakistan still had work to do. Only three runs came from the over, leaving 16 needed from 12.

Eyman Fatima was then caught in the 10th over with Pakistan still 15 runs away. Tuba Hassan responded with consecutive six and four to reduce the equation to four from seven balls.

Hassan was caught at fine leg off the final ball of the penultimate over, but Eman Naseer and Umm-e-Hani kept their composure. Four singles from the next four deliveries completed the chase and sent Pakistan through with two balls remaining.

The result continues Pakistan’s strong record in the Asian Games, where they are two-time gold medallists. It was also another win over Thailand after Pakistan had beaten them by 35 runs in the Women’s Asia Cup in Dubai earlier this month.

Pakistan will face the winner of Malaysia and Sri Lanka in the semi-final on September 20.

Earlier, rain washed out Bangladesh’s quarter-final against China, sending Bangladesh through to the semi-finals. They will face the winner of India and Japan on September 20.