Rain thwarts Thailand after T20 World Cup fairytale ends with record-breaking total

Thailand made their top T20I score of all time and the seventh-highest total of the tournament, with Natthakan Chantam making her country's first World Cup half century

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Natthakan Chantam made Thailand’s first ever half century at a global ICC event, before rain intervened to deny the T20 World Cup debutants a chance at creating further history.

In the 20 overs that were possible at the Sydney Showground Stadium in Sydney after Thailand won the toss and elected to bat, Chantam and Nattaya Boochatham put together a stand of 93 – the second-highest first-wicket partnership of the tournament.

No side had put together an opening stand of more than four against Pakistan in their first three matches. Anam Amin was taken for four boundaries in her second over, while Chantam drove gloriously through extra cover with regularity.

Pakistan, captained by Javeria Khan in the absence of Bismah Maroof, who fractured her hand against England, were made to toil in the field.

Thailand would go on to reach 150 for 3 from their allotted overs, with Boochatham falling to a full-toss from Anam Amin for 44, before Chantam’s landmark knock of 56 came to an end when she was well caught by Diana Baig.

Given the way that Sornnarin Tippoch’s side has bowled and fielded in their maiden World Cup, they would have backed themselves to defend the runs in the second innings.

However, poor weather, which is forecast to continue for much of the week – putting Thursday’s semi-finals in doubt – meant that the sides never returned to the field to begin Pakistan’s run-chase. They have never chased more than 139 in T20I cricket.

After Chantam and Boochatham finally fell, it was left to Nannapat Khoncharoenkai and Chanida Sutthiruang to drag their side to the seventh-highest total of the tournament and their top score in T20I history.

^{Nattaya Boochatham made 44 for Thailand}

“It was the last game, the last game of the group, the last game of the World Cup,” Tippoch said after the game.

“We just knew we had to put it all out there and try to play our best cricket. It's also a game that we want people to remember us by, not just through press conferences and saying like we didn't rock up, we didn't show up.

“But I think this game really put things into perspective of how well we can deal with situations and how well we prepared for the tournament.

“Obviously, we played a lot of world-class teams in this tournament. But this performance would probably be one to remember by the players themselves, giving them motivation, and also for the fans back home as well.”

She added: “Going home, there's probably lots of things that are on the itinerary right now. Top of the list, probably go back, share the experiences. Also we've got to look into the development programmes, the under-19 programmes, share the experiences, get them ready for this type of competitions because we want to be here and I think we've made a statement that we're good enough to be here.

“So, it's just preparing that bottom tier to be ready for this challenge and put us in good stead for the future and also looking forward to play a lot more fixtures with world-class teams.”