India survive batting wobble to edge spirited Thailand in Women's Asia Cup

India opened their Women's Asia Cup campaign with a 94-run win over Thailand, despite another batting collapse after a flying start. Shafali Verma starred with the bat, while Deepti Sharma's landmark 150th T20I and record-breaking bowling performance headlined India's dominant victory.India beat Thailand by 94 runs in Dubai. Courtesy: BCCI WomenBrief Scores: India (159/9) beat Thailand (65-all out in 16.1 overs) by 94 runs in Dubai in the Women's Asia Cup Group A match. Highlights, ScorecardIndia made a winning start to their Women’s Asia Cup campaign with a 94-run victory over Thailand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, but the comfortable margin could not hide another worrying batting collapse.India appeared to be cruising towards a formidable total after reaching 101/2 in 10 overs, only for their innings to unravel in the second half. They lost seven wickets for 36 runs before Kranti Gaud’s late hitting helped them finish on 159/9. Thailand, however, were unable to make the most of India’s stumble as their batting folded under sustained pressure from an impressive Indian bowling attack.SHAFALI SETS INDIA ON COURSE FOR BIG TOTALIndia were on the offensive from the outset after being asked to bat, racing to 65/1 during the powerplay. Smriti Mandhana provided the early impetus with 19 off 10 balls, hitting four boundaries before being run out while attempting a second run. Pratika Rawal, making her T20I debut, continued the momentum with an encouraging 22 off 18 balls. But it was Shafali Verma who truly took the game away from Thailand during the opening half of the innings.The opener attacked fearlessly, bringing up her 19th T20I half-century from just 26 balls. By the time India reached 101/2 after 10 overs, Shafali was well set and India appeared destined for a total of 180 or more.Instead, Thailand produced a spirited response.THAILAND TURN THE GAME ON ITS HEADRawal’s dismissal in the ninth over provided Thailand with their opening, and they made full use of it. Shafali followed soon after, caught and bowled by Suleeporn Laomi for a superb 64 off 36 balls, having struck eight fours and three sixes.Laomi became the chief architect of Thailand’s fightback, finishing with an impressive 3/26. After removing Rawal and Shafali, she returned to dismiss Richa Ghosh for a golden duck, leaving India suddenly vulnerable.The pressure told on India’s middle order. Harmanpreet Kaur struggled to five off nine balls, while Deepti Sharma was run out for five. India slumped from 112/4 to 137/9, losing their last five wickets for just 25 runs.Kranti Gaud then provided a crucial late flourish, smashing an unbeaten 15 off eight balls, including a six and a four, to lift India to 159/9. It was a total that looked below par given their dominant start, but India’s bowlers soon ensured it was more than enough.DEEPTI SCRIPTS LANDMARK BOWLING DISPLAYThailand needed a strong start to put India under pressure, but India's bowlers quickly took control. Kranti Gaud removed Natthakan Chantham early, before Nandani Sharma and Shree Charani continued to chip away at the Thailand batting order.Nandani produced an excellent spell, claiming 3/18, including two wickets in two balls, while Charani returned 2/10. Prema Rawat was equally economical, conceding just 11 runs from her four overs.The standout moment, however, belonged to Deepti Sharma. On her 150th T20I appearance, she produced a remarkable spell of 3/0 in 1.1 overs. She struck with her first delivery, removed two wickets in her opening three balls and then returned to take the final wicket of Nannapat Koncharoenkai.That dismissal carried added significance. It took Deepti past Thailand captain Thipatcha Putthawong to become the all-time leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20Is.Nannapat was the lone resistance for Thailand, fighting her way to 41 off 48 balls with five fours. But with wickets tumbling around her, there was little she could do to keep the chase alive. Thailand were eventually bowled out for 65 in 16.1 overs.India’s bowling performance was clinical, although their fielding was less convincing, with two catches going down. Those lapses did not prove costly against Thailand, but they remain an area for improvement.The victory puts India at the top of Group A, but with Hong Kong next before a potentially tougher contest against Pakistan, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side will know that their batting — and fielding — must sharpen considerably.- EndsPublished By: sabyasachi chowdhuryPublished On: Aug 30, 2026 23:18 IST