Uganda prevail over Thailand in low-scoring thriller
Close, low-scoring games have a reputation for being the most exciting, with the game able to twist on a sixpence, and this was no different, with both sides holding the ascendancy at one time or another.
Thailand were defending 67, and yet they still seemed set for victory when a two-wicket over from Suleeporn Laomi (3/17) reduced Uganda to 26/5 in the 12th over. It was just reward for a sustained, aggressive fielding display, with Thailand’s ground fielding especially impressive, replete with one-handed pick-ups on the run, accurate throws, and plenty of encouragement.
Then came the game’s defining partnership, as Immaculate Nakisuuyi and Getrude Candiru added 30 for the sixth witcket – a micro-partnership in most matches, but worth its weight in gold in this. Nakisuuyi, who claimed the Player of the Match award, was particularly impressive, striking the game’s only six straight down the ground to knock off an 11th of the target in one blow.
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Two boundaries in two balls followed off the dangerous Wongpaka Liengprasert, the first a no-ball sliced over point, and the second swung through square leg after moving across. That the strikes came after Liengprasert had dropped a tough caught-and-bowled chance offered by Candiru only compounded the misery.
Naakisuyi fell not long after, slicing to point to raise Thailand hopes once again, but Candiru held her nerve to spark a Ugandan pitch invasion.
The two of them had done a bulk of the work to restrict Thailand to a sub-par 67/9, each striking twice and keeping the run rate down. For Thailand, even that total represented a recovery after they slipped to 2/3 at the end of the third over, with the second wicket, the in-form Nattaya Boochatham run out by a throw which missed at the striker’s end before going on to hit at the non-striker’s, needing to be seen to be believed.
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Nannapat Koncharoenkai made a gutsy 22 from 37, while captain Sornnarin Tippoch registered her side’s only two boundaries in her 32-ball 15, but the innings was dominated by relentless Uganda. Their performance was perhaps best summed up by their opening bowlers Carol Namugenyi and Consylate Aweko, who returned combined figures of 8-5-4-2.
Though Thailand have lost two from two, Ireland’s victory over Scotland leaves them with a theoretical chance of qualifying for the semi-finals. For Uganda, even victory over Ireland might leave them dependant on net run rate. It’s all to play for as the side’s head into the final round of fixtures on Tuesday 10 July.