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A rain-shortened quarter-final at Japan's Korogi Sports Park saw Pakistan women's team edge past Thailand in a tense finish to secure their spot in the Asian Games semi-finals. Tasked with batting first, the Thai team capitalised on an energetic powerplay to set a competitive target of 91 in an 11-over match, setting the stage for a tight chase that came down to the final over.
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Pakistan nick past Thailand by 3 wickets to make Asian Games semis
Thailand launched their innings aggressively, amassing 41 runs during the powerplay overs thanks to a lively 24-run effort from Nannapat Koncharoenkai. Although skipper Fatima Sana made an early breakthrough by bowling Natthakan Chantham for six, Thailand’s top order pressed on to post a formidable total.
Pakistan's response was far from smooth, as a relentless Thai bowling attack reduced them to seven wickets down and dragged the contest into its dying moments. Opener Shawal Zulfiqar provided early momentum with a rapid 25, while Fatima contributed a crucial 21 off 13 balls to keep the chase on track. Despite losing the captain before the final run was scored, Pakistan held their nerve to seal the three-wicket victory with just two balls remaining.
Fatima Sana first break Thailand's back with the ball
Nannapat Koncharoenkai spearheaded a blazing start for Thailand, guiding her side to 41 powerplay runs despite losing opening partner Natthakan Chantham early to a strike from Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana. Unfazed by the early loss, Koncharoenkai joined forces with Phannita Maya to build a commandingly paced 65-run partnership, frequently targeting spinners Tuba Hassan and Umm-e-Hani—the latter taking a heavy blow with a 14-run eighth over.
Fielding errors from Pakistan further fueled Thailand's momentum, with a missed chance behind the stumps by Gul Feroza helping push the score to 72 through nine overs. Shortly after Maya was tactically retired out for 15, Naruemol Chaiwai delivered a quickfire burst against Nashra Sandhu, launching a six and a boundary before being caught by Fatima on the very next delivery.
Fatima returned in the final over to stem the flow of runs, ultimately pinning Koncharoenkai leg-before for a brilliant 49 off 38 balls. Denying the Thai opener a deserved half-century, the Pakistani captain wrapped up a disciplined spell of 2 for 22, leaving Thailand with a total built on aggressive middle-over hitting.
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Sana then returns to power Pakistan past finishing line with the bat
Pakistan’s response opened with immediate aggression as Shawal Zulfiqar and Gul Feroza found early boundaries, including a towering six off Phannita Maya. Despite benefiting from dropped catches in consecutive overs, the initial momentum vanished when Onnicha Kamchomphu took a sharp caught-and-bowled to remove Shawal, triggering a sudden, four-wicket slide within 13 deliveries. Ayesha Zafar fell almost instantly to Suleeporn Laomi, and Kamchomphu struck again by having Gul stumped. When veteran Aliya Riaz hit a boundary only to be dismissed moments later, Pakistan found themselves spiraling into a deep wobble at 47-4.
Thailand tightened the vice in the seventh over, restricting the chase to a single run, before skipper Fatima Sana mounted a counter-offensive. Promoted up the order, Fatima swung the game back by punishing Kamchomphu for 18 runs in an over, aided by a maximum from Eyman Fatima. However, the drama spiked again when both Fatima and Eyman were dismissed in rapid succession, leaving Pakistan reeling at 76-7 with overs running out.
Tuba Hassan provided the final critical shift, launching a six and a four off Sunida Chaturongrattana to bring the required rate within reach. Though Hassan fell attempting to finish it herself, the lower-order duo of Umm-e-Hani and Eman Naseer held their nerves in the ultimate over to pull off the dramatic escape.
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