It was a straight-forward sort of Thursday at the ACC Women’s Premier Cup, the four group winners – Thailand, Hong Kong, UAE and Indonesia – collecting the quarter-final wins they were widely expected to and, with them, tickets to the Women’s T20 Asia Cup later in the year.
Thailand, unbeaten in their pool, dealt with Nepal by 56 runs in Kuala Lumpur. Wicketkeeper-batter Nannapat Koncharoenkai anchored the innings with 62, nudging Thailand to 130 for 4 – handy on a surface that held a touch. Nepal never really found a gear, finishing on 74 for 7. Assistant coach Kanjana Ketkaew summed it up neatly: “We didn’t chase big numbers; we just asked the bowlers to hit the top of off and be boring.”
On the adjoining ground the UAE made 138 for 2 against Malaysia, Theertha Satish’s composed 65* from 53 balls doing most of the lifting. Malaysia, despite plenty of intent, closed on 86 for 5 to lose by 52. Captain Esha Oza said afterwards, “The batting group put up a platform, and the bowlers kept their lines – that’s the blueprint.”
Over in Bangi, Hong Kong brushed aside Japan by 41 runs. Yasmin Daswani’s unbeaten 55 gave them 130 for 4; seamers Maryam Bibi (3 for 17) and Marina Lamplough (2 for 11) tidied up the chase. Daswani noted, “We’ve talked a lot about pushing into the 130s; nice to actually do it.”
Indonesia v Oman proved hopelessly one-sided. Skipper Ni Putu Ayu Nanda Sakarini’s brisk 51 hoisted Indonesia to 137 for 7 before Oman were bundled out for 24 in 11.5 overs, left-arm spinner Ni Made Putri Suwandewi helping herself to 4 for 11. Oman coach Duleep Mendis admitted his side were “well off the pace”.
The semi-finals – Thailand v Indonesia and Hong Kong v UAE – are pencilled in for Friday, both in Kuala Lumpur. As for the Asia Cup itself, dates remain TBC, but eight teams are expected, the four qualifiers joining India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Plenty still to iron out, yet the sense is the region’s emerging outfits are pushing forward. Whether that translates into upsets at the Asia Cup is another conversation entirely.
