Thailand thrash Malaysia in maiden 2018 Asia Cup win

Thailand romped to their first win of the 2018 Asia Cup by consigning hosts Malaysia to a nine-wicket defeat after restricting them to 36 for 8 in 20 overs. Offpsinner Wongpaka Liengprasert's 2 for 10 headlined Thailand's victory, while opener Naruemol Chaiwai's top score of 20 helped them seal the chase with 11 overs to spare.

For the third time in a row, Malaysia scored under 50 runs in all, as none of their batsmen got into a double-digit score. Having elected to bat, Malaysia lost a wicket off the very first ball of the match, and their highest partnership amounted to only 12 runs. Liengprasert's two strikes and two run-outs propped up an overall disciplined bowling performance by Thailand, where five of the six bowlers snared at least one wicket.

The only hitch during Thailand's chase came via Malaysia's leading wicket-taker of the tournament, medium-pacer Sasha Azmi, who trapped opener Nattakam Chantam in front for a 12-ball 6 in the fourth over. An undefeated 21-run, second-wicket stand between Chaiwai and Sirintra Saengsakaorat thereafter took Thailand to 37 for 1 in the ninth over.