Pakistan Women faced Thailand Women in a rain affected quarter final of Asian Games at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan. Pakistan won with three wickets that sent them through to the semi-finals, but not without plenty of anxious moments along the way.
Once again, it was captain Fatima Sana who stepped up exactly when her team needed her most.
How the Match Started
Rain played a significant role in reshaping this contest before a ball had even been bowled in anger. With overs reduced, Pakistan found themselves chasing a stiff target of 92 runs in just 11 overs, a required rate that left almost no margin for a slow start.
Thailand’s bowlers made the most of the tricky situation. Pakistan slipped into serious trouble early, needing 44 runs off just 24 balls at one stage, a position that would have worried even the most experienced chasing sides. Things briefly got worse before they got better, as Thailand’s spin attack ripped through Pakistan’s middle order.
Shawaal Zulfiqar fell to a simple return catch off Thailand’s offspinner Onnicha Kamchomphu. Ayesha Zafar departed for just 1 run at number three. Opener Gull Feroza was stumped for 16 after stepping out aggressively against the same bowler, and Aliya Riaz soon followed, caught off Kamchomphu as well. Suddenly, Pakistan was sitting at 47 for 4, still needing 45 runs from just 30 balls remaining.
Fatima Sana’s Match Winning Innings
That is when Pakistan’s captain took matters into her own hands. Fatima Sana dropped to her knee and smashed a four, another four, and then a six through the leg side in quick succession, completely shifting the innings momentum. She was fortunate to survive one anxious moment too, finding the boundary rope after being put down by a diving fielder at long off.
Eyman Fatima joined the fightback superbly, striking a six of her own to close out an over that yielded 25 runs, a passage of play that effectively swung the entire match back in Pakistan’s favour. Suddenly, the equation read a far more manageable 19 runs needed from 18 balls.
Thailand also refused to fold quietly. The Thai bowlers kept searching for wickets right through the closing overs, keeping genuine tension alive until the very last moments. Pakistan eventually crossed the finish line with a nervy three wicket win, sealing their spot in the last four with far more drama than anyone had hoped for.
Rankings and Recent Form Heading Into the Clash
On paper, this contest looked fairly one sided before a ball was bowled. Pakistan entered the tournament ranked eighth in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings, considerably higher than Thailand’s twelfth place standing. The two sides had also met earlier this month at the Women’s Asia Cup in Dubai, where Pakistan won by 35 runs.
Speaking after the tournament, Fatima Sana had expressed genuine excitement about representing her country on this stage. “We are excited to compete in the Asian Games and it is an honour to be a part of Pakistan’s contingent in this event,” she said, adding that every match would carry “great consequence” given what is at stake for a medal chasing squad.
That prediction proved accurate almost immediately. Despite the rankings gap, Thailand pushed Pakistan to their absolute limit, a reminder that teams in women’s cricket continue closing the gap on more established sides.
What Comes Next for Pakistan
With this scare now behind them, Pakistan advance to face the winner of Malaysia versus Sri Lanka in the semi-final, scheduled for September 20. Given how history has favoured Pakistan at this event, having claimed gold at both the 2010 Guangzhou Games and the 2014 Incheon Games, expectations of Pakistanis remain high heading into the knockout rounds.
For Thailand, the exit stings given how close they came to a genuine upset. Their spin bowlers in particular showed real quality, and their fielding effort kept pressure on Pakistan almost until the final ball.
The tournament itself continues building toward a dramatic finish, with the eight team competition wrapping up through semi-finals on September 20, followed by gold and bronze medal matches just two days later on September 22. For Pakistan, surviving this scare might actually prove valuable, a reminder that no team at this tournament can be taken lightly, no matter what the rankings suggest on the table.
