West Indies survive Thailand scare to start T20 World Cup campaign on a winning note

Chasing a lowly 79, 2016 champions West Indies were dealt early blows losing three wickets for just 27 runs on board inside seven overs. Lee-Ann Kirby (three), who is making an international comeback after a long hiatus of 12 years, was the first to go before Hayley Matthews (16) followed suit, thanks to a brilliantly Soraya Lateh (1/22) delivery that completely bamboozled the right-hander. Deandra Dottin, making a comeback from a serious shoulder injury was the next to go, this time a brilliant on-field exercise by Nannapat Koncharoenkai.
Thereafter, it was all about skipper Stafanie Taylor and (26 not out) wicket-keeper Shemaine Campbelle (25 not out), who was playing her 100th T20I. The Taylor-Campbelle combo added an unbeaten 53 runs for the fourth wicket to finish off the game in 16.4 overs without further hiccups to give the Caribbeans a winning start in the tournament.
But there was much to talk about Thailand. Despite defending a small total, the Thai bowlers kept the Windies batters constantly on check with their disciplined line and length. Nattaya Boochattam was the most economical among Thai bowlers giving away only nine runs in 3.4 overs. Suleeporn Naomi too was impressive with a spell of 4-0-14-0, including a maiden over against Taylor.
Earlier, it was a perfect start for the Windies bowlers, just as the doctor ordered. Thailand, making their first outing in the mega tournament looked shaky from the onset as they struggled with the pace of Chinelle Henry and Shamila Connell. And that’s mainly because these Thai girls are not used to playing in this type of fast pitches.
Thailand got their maiden boundary in the mega event, with Nattakan Chantam driving a wide ball from Connell in the second over. But the debutants let go of their momentum as they lost their first with Nattaya Boochattam (two) slashing a wide ball to give a simple catch to Taylor off Henry in the third over.
Chantam (nine) followed suit in the next over itself giving Connell her first. Unable to adjust the pace and bounce, the 24-year-old opener edged an outgoing delivery to Campbelle behind the stumps. With two early wickets within the first six overs, the Caribbean bowlers were on top of their game giving no inch for the Thai batters to open their hands. But the duo of Naruemol Chaiwai and Koncharoenkai frustrated the Windies bowlers for almost the next six overs as they took occasional ones and twos.
The match looked too boring at one time as Thailand progressed their innings at a snail’s pace reaching 41 for the loss of two wickets in their first 10 overs. However, left-arm spinner Anisa Mohammed (1/15) gave West Indies the much-needed breakthrough in the 12th over dismissing the 21-year-old Chaiwai for an unlucky 13 ending the 35-run third-wicket partnership.
Thereafter it was all about Caribbean music as Thailand kept on losing wickets at regular intervals. While Hayley Matthews picked up Chanida Sutthiruang caught and bowled for three, Taylor picked up two in an over including that of counterpart Sornnarin Tippoch (one) to leave Thailand at 60/3 in the 16th over. They finally finished at 78 for the loss of nine wickets in 20 overs.
Taylor was the pick of the bowlers for West Indies with three for 13, while for Thailand, Nannapat Koncharoenkai top-scored with a 48-ball 33. It is also to be noted that Thailand had hit only three boundaries in their whole innings and was also the second time they finished on seventies in their innings in T20Is.
Brief scores: Thailand 78/9 in 20 overs (Nannapat Koncharoenkai 33; Stafanie Taylor 3/13) lost to West Indies 80/3 in 16.4 overs (Stafanie Taylor 26*, Shermaine Campbelle 25*; Soraya Lateh 1/22) by seven wickets.