Nattakan Chantham’s historic half-century ensured that Thailand’s unforgettable debut at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup ended in record-breaking, despite the rain ending the last group game against Pakistan ahead of schedule.
Thailand scored 150/3 when it first hit the Sydney Showground, the highest total on that floor.
It seemed set for a thriller, but Thailand and Pakistan's final #T20WorldCup game has been called off due to rain ☔#PAKvTHA pic.twitter.com/0kMiFEo5wW
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) March 3, 2020
Chantam (56) registered with Nattaya Boochatham (44) the first T20 World Cup women half-century of their country with 93 points for the opening wicket. However, the victory should not be for Sornnarin Tippoch’s team, as persistent rain made Pakistan unable to start its hunt in Sydney.
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No team in Group B had registered more than four runs for the opening wicket against Pakistan, but the debutants mocked this record with numerous limits in power play. A patient start was followed by four limits in Anam Amin’s second round. Chanhtam’s series of strikes on the floor was an unforgettable sight.
It got better as Boochatham threw numerous deliveries over the top of Diana Baig – who had scored her first goal in every match so far. The excellent ten boundaries ensured that Thailand ended the Powerplay with 49 without a loss and soon set up its first 50 partnerships in the competition.
The openers continued with Boochatham and chased their loft drives with well-timed sweeps. They reached 70 halfway down without a loss and became only the second side that lost no wicket in the first ten overs. The runs continued before the partnership ended on the 14th of 93. Boochatham took 44 for Anam from the full throw.
Thailand's highest T20I total ✅
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) March 3, 2020
Thailand's first World Cup fifty ✅
The highest T20I total at the Sydney Showground ✅
Thailand's first World Cup win ❓#PAKvTHA | #T20WorldCup
SCORE 📝 https://t.co/OjVeetMdXL pic.twitter.com/a6sfLZDjFf
Chantam went on anyway and achieved the first half of their competition when Thailand made it to 100 for the first time in this tournament. She eventually dropped to a stunning Diana recovery for 56, with Thailand entering the last four overs with 116 on the board. Nannapat Koncharoenkai (20 *) and Chanida Sutthiruang (20) pushed the momentum into the final stages, pushing five boundaries to get Thailand up to 150 for three – their highest score on T20Is.
Pakistan had never hunted more than 139 to win a T20I, but its own offer for history was thwarted when it started to rain during the innings break. The number of overs that could be played began to decrease and the match was abandoned without any signs of bad weather before Javeria Khan’s team could take over the field.
The hosts South Africa and the seven other top teams in the MRF Tires Women’s T20I team ranking on November 30, 2021, automatically qualify for the event. The last two places are in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2021.
