Series: Thailand in Zimbabwe Aug 2021
Venue: Harare Sports Club
Format: List A
Toss: Zimbabwe
Result: Thailand by 5 wickets
Thailand Victory Squares Series
A solid team effort with both bat and ball gave Thailand a five wicket victory over Zimbabwe in game four which allowed them to square the series 2-2.
Zimbabwe were missing regular skipper Mary-Anne Musonda so it was left to Josephine Nkomo to toss the coin for the home team as stand-in captain. She duly won the toss and elected to bat.
A combination of cautious batting and tight, restrictive bowling from Thailand kept the run rate low from the outset and the home team never managed to get on top. A subdued Modester Mupachikwa (32) and a careful Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano (58) put on a 60 run partnership after the early loss of Ashley Ndiraya (3).
A more lively knock from Precious Marange (66) lower down the order helped to get Zimbabwe to a reasonable total when at one stage it looked very much like being sub 200. In the end a modest 212/8. The pick of the bowlers was Nattaya Boochatham (3-27) with nine tight overs.
After the debacle at the top of the order in game three, Thailand were sure not to allow a repeat of that. A half century stand to the openers Nattaya Boochatham (34) and Natthakan Chantham (19) ensured as much and was followed up with a super cautious knock from number three, Nannapat Koncharoenkai (33).
To prove she is human, Naruemol Chaiwai was dismissed for a duck, the first time in the series, but the experience of Sornnarin Tippoch (29*) and the clean hitting from Chanida Sutthiruang (52*) saw Thailand home with nearly four overs to spare. The victory leveled the series 2-2.
With the 50 over series now complete all eyes turn to the shorter format with three T20 Internationals to play. Neither team has played a T20I in over a year but the entertaining 50 over matches tell us these players are in form and ready to go. Bring it on!
Scores:
Zimbabwe 212/8 (Precious Marange 66, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano 58, Nattaya Boochatham 3-27) 50 overs
Thailand 213/5 (Chanida Sutthiruang 52*, Nattaya Boochatham 34, Christabel Chatonzwa 2-22, Nomvelo Sibanda 2-47) 46.1 overs
Player of the Match: not announced