Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com
India and Sri Lanka advanced to the eighth Women’s Asia Cup semi-finals after defeating Thailand and the host Bangladesh, on a rain-hampered day in Sylhet on Monday.
Pakistan joined them in the semi-final as well because both teams have eight points and are tied for second position with Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh will take the final spot if they can beat the UAE in their final league match today.
India thrashed Thailand by nine wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis method after Sri Lanka eked out a three-run win against Bangladesh in another rain-interrupted match at the Sylhet Outer Cricket Stadium.
Thailand will be through to the semi-final if UAE win against Bangladesh on the final day of the league phase.
India denied Thailand any momentum after winning the toss and electing to bowl, dismissing the side for just 37 runs in 15.1 overs.
Off-break bowler Sneh Rana picked up three wickets, giving away just nine runs in her four overs, while Deepti Sharma and Rajeshwari Gayakwad picked up two wickets each.
Nannapat Koncharoenkai was the only batter to reach double digits for Thailand with 12 runs. Set a revised target of 38 runs in six overs, India started slowly and needed 16 runs to score in the last over of their innings.
Sabbhineni Meghana (20 not out) and Pooja Vastrakar (12 not out) struck two boundaries each to take them to 40-1 in six overs, breaking the hearts of Thailand.
Bangladesh watched the game nervously, as a Thailand win would end their chance of qualifying for the semi-final.
The hosts and defending champions missed the chance to control their own fate, losing to Sri Lanka by three runs in an equally thrilling contest earlier in the day.
After electing to bowl first, they restricted Sri Lanka to 83-5 in 18.1 overs when rain halted the game.
They were set a revised target of 41 runs in seven overs after play resumed, but the hosts could manage only 37-7.
Inoka Ranaweera claimed four wickets in one over to finish with 4-7 and give the game a decisive turn towards Sri Lanka.
