India Beat Thailand By 94 Runs In Women's Asia Cup

India beat Thailand by 94 runs in the Women's Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. It was India's opening match of the tournament and the third of the competition. They posted 159 for 9 and then bowled Thailand out for 65 inside 17 overs.

Shafali Verma built the total almost on her own, striking 64 from 36 balls with eight fours and three sixes. Yardbarker reported she was named player of the match. Pratika Rawal made 22 from 18 and Kranti Gaud hit 15 from eight late on.

Thailand won the toss and chose to field, according to Outlook India. Harmanpreet Kaur captained India. Thipatcha Putthawong led Thailand. Smriti Mandhana made 19 from 10 balls before she was run out.

India slide from 91 for 1

The innings did not run smoothly. India were 91 for 1 inside nine overs and 137 for 9 by the 18th, according to Social News XYZ. That is eight wickets for 68 runs. Gaud's late hitting was what carried them past 150.

Thailand's spinners take five between them

Suleeporn Laomi finished with 3 for 26 and Sunida Chaturongrattana with 2 for 31. Laomi accounted for both Shafali and Rawal, according to Outlook India. Five of the nine wickets to fall went to those two bowlers.

The chase ends in 16.1 overs

Nannapat Koncharoenkai made 41 from 48 balls, the top score of the innings. Deepti Sharma took three wickets. Nandani Sharma returned 3 for 18 and Shree Charani 2 for 10, per Yardbarker. Thailand were all out for 65 with 23 balls of their allocation unused. Nobody else could have passed 24 in a total of that size.

Group A takes shape

Eight teams are split into two groups of four, with the top two in each reaching the semi-finals on 10 and 11 September. India, Pakistan, Thailand and Hong Kong make up Group A. Every match is being played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The tournament began on 28 August, the group stage runs to 8 September and the final is on 13 September.

India's remaining group programme is short:

• 3 September: India v Hong Kong
• 5 September: India v Pakistan

Pakistan meet Thailand on 1 September and Hong Kong on 7 September. Taking both totals over the full 20 overs, India's net run rate from this match works out at plus 4.70. That is a large cushion after one game. Barring a heavy defeat, the 5 September fixture should settle who tops Group A rather than who leaves it. Group B is made up of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.