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The Asian Games 2026 cricket quarter-final featured the Pakistan Women’s National Cricket Team against the Thailand Women’s National Cricket Team. Fatima Sana’s side won a thriller to qualify for the semi-final of the multi-nation event. They won by 3 wickets in a rain-curtailed match, with their captain saving them from the jaws of defeat.
The Women in Green, after suffering a defeat in the semi-final of the recently concluded Women’s Asia Cup 2026 against Sri Lanka, had been criticised for their performance, except for their captain, Fatima Sana, who was the lone warrior in the tournament for the side and performed well against India and Sri Lanka; however, she failed to win both matches.
Fatima Sana shines with the ball
Pakistan Women side won the toss and opted to field first in a rain-shortened 11-over match due to the wet outfield. They dropped Muneeba Ali from their last match, which they lost against Sri Lanka. Thailand side, after being asked to bat first in an 11-over match, had a poor start as they lost their opener, Natthakan Chantham, early on in the innings.
Later on, a solid partnership of 75 runs between Nannapat Koncharoenkai and skipper Naruemol Chaiwai helped them cross the 90-run mark in the rain-curtailed game. The former played a knock of 49 runs, and Chaiwai scored 10 off 3 deliveries, and Phannita Maya was retired out for 15 runs as they posted 91 runs in 11 overs.
Fatima Sana yet again was the leading wicket-taker in the match with two wickets in three overs, giving out just 22 runs. Nashra Sandhu picked one wicket, as they could only take three wickets.
Fatima Sana rescues Pakistan
Coming out to chase, Pakistan had a decent start, with Shawaal Zulfiqar providing a good start, scoring 25 runs; however, the Women in Green’s problems started after the first wicket of Gul Feroza, who was dismissed for just 16 runs. As the first wicket fell on 36 runs, the wickets kept on tumbling; from 36/1 they were 47/4 at one time.
The wickets kept on falling as they needed 44 runs in the last four overs before skipper Fatima Sana’s 21-run cameo made the game in their favour. Sana counter-attacked Kamchomphu, smashing three fours and a six, before Eyman Fatima slammed a six in the same over, with 25 runs coming from the over, and this helped Pakistan win the game by 3 wickets.
Onnicha Kamchomphu was the pick of the bowlers for the side as she picked three wickets and had controlled the game, but that one over of hers, which cost 25 runs, changed the course of the match. However, she bowled well for the side. Sunida Chaturongrattana picked two wickets, and Phannita Maya, along with Suleeporn Laomi, picked one wicket each.
Pakistan will now face Sri Lanka or Malaysia in the semi-final
Pakistan Women will face the winner of the Sri Lanka and Malaysia sides, who play tomorrow at 5:30 AM IST.
In this match, Chamari Athapaththu’s side are the clear favourites to win the game and qualify for the last four.
