Thailand Team Preview: With heaps of skill and teamwork, can they cause an upset?

Six teams will be featured in the upcoming Asia cup – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, and host Malaysia. It will take place from the 3rd to 10th June 2018 in Malaysia. Each team will play the other once and the top two teams will compete in the final.



Here is the preview on the Team Thailand:



Key Players:



Thailand has improved exponentially over the last few years. In both the bowling and batting departments, captain Sornnarin Tippoch shines.  As an offspinner, she is exceptional in her ability to bowl to her field and restrict runs. In recent games, she seems to have been dropped down the batting order, however, she is still a dangerous batswoman who should not be underestimated.



Nattaya Boochatham was awarded the Player of the Tournament at the ASEAN women’s T20 tournament where she accumulated wickets and amassed runs. She will be looking to continue this run of form against quality opposition.



Finally, small but deadly Suleeporn Laomi is one player in Thailand’s bowling arsenal who has the potential to wreak havoc. In the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers last year, she was the highest wicket-taker for Thailand with four wickets.



 



Strengths:



Thailand’s biggest strength by far is their cohesiveness as a team unit.  In the field, they are athletic and lithe, and they are known for running hard between the wickets.



 



Weaknesses:



While they have a few standout batsmen, Thailand has a tendency to collapse under pressure when key wickets fall.



This was most aptly shown in the Asia Region Qualifiers against Hong Kong when chasing 34 runs they managed to lose 6 wickets.  They will need to improve on this in the upcoming tournament and will need to work on finding scoring options even when under pressure.



 



Previous Results:



After going undefeated at both the ASEAN Women’s T20 tournament in February 2018 and the Asia Region World Qualifiers in November 2017, Thailand will be looking to make an impact at the highest level.



They are the undeniable champions among the Asian Associate Nations and will have the support of their Asian counterparts going into this tournament. With heaps of skill and teamwork, can they cause an upset?



Asia Cup full schedule here



Thailand Squad announced



Squad:



Sornnarin Tippoch (C), Nattaya Boochatham, Naruemol Chaiwai, Chanida Sutthiruang, Ratanaporn Padunglerd, Sirintra Saengsakaorat, Wongpaka Liengprasert, Suleeporn Laomi, Natthakan Chantham, Rosenanee Kanoh, Nannapat Khoncharoenkai, Sainammin Saenya, Onnicha Khamchompu, Waralee Saensong, Arriya Yenyueak.