Mandhana scripts history in Asia Cup, surpasses Suzie Bates for international record

India survived a dramatic batting slump to secure a 94-run victory over Thailand in their opening Women's Asia Cup match in Dubai on Sunday. The match, played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, saw India post 159/9, while Thailand were bowled out for 65 in 16.1 overs. Despite the early promise of a substantial score, India's innings suffered a severe collapse, losing seven wickets for 36 runs in the latter stages. However, the team's resilience shone through as they managed to keep the deficit manageable, allowing their bowlers to finish the task. The match began with India setting the tone, as they raced to 65/1 in the powerplay. Smriti Mandhana provided the initial spark, scoring 19 off 10 balls with four boundaries before being run out while attempting a second run. Pratika Rawal, making her T20I debut, continued the momentum with 22 off 18 balls. The real turning point came with Shafali Verma, who delivered a composed and aggressive display, reaching her 19th T20I half-century in 26 balls. At 101/2, India seemed poised for a total of 180 or more. However, Thailand responded swiftly, capitalizing on India's vulnerability. Shafali fell shortly after, caught and bowled by Suleeporn Laomi for 64 off 36 balls, having hit eight fours and three sixes. Laomi, who finished with 3/26, became the key figure in Thailand's resurgence. Her efforts led to the dismissal of Pratika Rawal and later Richa Ghosh, who was run out for a golden duck. The pressure mounted on India's middle order, resulting in a rapid collapse from 112/4 to 137/9, with five wickets falling for just 25 runs. Kranti Gaud stepped up in the final stages, providing a much-needed boost with an unbeaten 15 off eight balls, including a six and a four. This late recovery lifted India to 159/9, though the total fell short of expectations given the early dominance. Nevertheless, the bowlers proved instrumental in securing the win, ensuring the margin was sufficient. Thailand's batting lineup faced relentless pressure from India's seamers. Kranti Gaud removed Natthakan Chantham early, while Nandani Sharma and Shree Charani chipped away at the opposition's order. Nandani's performance was particularly noteworthy, as she claimed 3/18, including two wickets in consecutive deliveries. Charani contributed 2/10, and Prema Rawat remained economical, conceding just 11 runs in four overs. Deepti Sharma emerged as the star performer with the ball, marking her 150th T20I appearance with a stellar display. In 1.1 overs, she took three wickets, starting with the removal of two batters in her first three deliveries. Her final dismissal of Nannapat Koncharoenkai was especially significant, as it surpassed Thailand's captain Thipatcha Putthawong in the all-time wicket-taking rankings. Nannapat, the sole consistent performer for Thailand, scored 41 off 48 balls with five fours. Smriti Mandhana also etched her name into history, surpassing New Zealand legend Suzie Bates in the all-time run-scoring charts. With 19 off 10 balls, Mandhana reached 10,756 runs, moving her to second place behind Mithali Raj, the top scorer in women's international cricket. Mandhana's achievement underscores her consistency across formats, with 788 runs in Tests, 5,411 in ODIs, and 4,557 in T20Is. As the tournament progresses, India will look to build on this solid foundation, addressing the batting instability that threatened their lead. The challenge will be to maintain the composure shown in the face of adversity, ensuring such collapses do not recur. With a mix of experience and emerging talent, India has set the stage for a competitive campaign in the Women's Asia Cup.