Thailand beat Zimbabwe by five wickets in the fourth unofficial ODI in Harare to level the four-match series 2-2. They first restricted Zimbabwe to 212/8, and then chased down the target with 23 balls to spare.
Opting to bat, Zimbabwe lost Ashley Ndiraya (3) to Sornnarin Tippoch (1-42) in the fourth over. Modester Mupachikwa (32 in 52 balls) and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano (58 in 101) held the fort, adding 60 for the second wicket before Thipatcha Putthawong (1-24) got Mupachikwa.
The Zimbabwe middle order struggled to get going. They were 73/1 before Mupachikwa’s departure, and added just another 20 in the next 10 overs while losing three wickets. Mugeri-Tiripano was unable to shift the gear as well, despite playing more than 100 balls.
Coming at No. 6, Precious Marange revived the Zimbabwe innings. She forged an 62-run stand with Mugeri-Tiripano, and batted most of the balls in the final 10 overs to take her side to a respectable total. She smacked five fours and two sixes in her 76-ball 66 before Nattaya Boochatham (3-27) pinned her leg before in the final over.
Boochatham and Natthakan Chantham shared a 52-run opening-wicket stand to give Thailand a promising start in the chase. In fact, barring Naruemol Chaiwai, who was unbeaten in each of the last three innings in this tour, all Thai batters scored more than 15 in this innings.
Chanida Sutthiruang was the architect of the chase. She hit seven fours in her unbeaten 49-ball 52, and forged an unbroken 75-run stand with Tippoch (29*) to take their side home comfortably.
Christabel Chatonzwa (2-22) and Esther Mbofana (0-22) were the only Zimbabwean bowlers who conceded less than four an over.
The two sides will now have a three-match T20I series, starting 27 August.
Brief scores: Zimbabwe 212/8 in 50 overs (Precious Marange 66; Nattaya Boochatham 3-27) lost to Thailand 213/5 in 46.1 overs (Chanida Sutthiruang 52*; Christabel Chatonzwa 2-22) by 5 wickets with 23 balls to spare.