Co-Ed Slow Pitch Softball Asia Cup (DAY 1) – 24th May, 2023 – Wednesday
Pictures by Krittayad Janasawad
Team Philippines put themselves in a comfortable zone after chalking two consecutive wins today, when they downed Singapore15-7 in their afternoon match in the inaugural Co-Ed Slow Pitch Softball Asia Cup at the Siam Polo Club ground in Pattaya, Thailand
Philippines who earlier in the morning had defeated China narrowly in comeback style 7-6, are unbeaten after two matches in the five nation competition.
The top three teams qualify for the inaugural Co-Ed Slow Pitch Softball World Cup in Mexico.
Philippines play Chinese Taipei in tough encounter tomorrow afternoon in their third game of the tournament.
Chinese Taipei had defeated Singapore 12-5 in the morning in their only game of the day.
China on the other hand, recovered from their morning narrow defeat to Philippines, with a clear 10-4 win over hosts Thailand in their afternoon match.
After a cautious first inning start by both China and Singapore, the former stepped on the pedal to take a 5 runs lead in the second inning and stretched their lead to seven in the third inning.
Singapore made a determined effort to get back in the game and reduced the deficit with two runs in each of the next two innings for 4-7 at the end of fifth inning.
China having learnt from their bitter lesson of going down to Philippines in the final inning when they led 6-4, only to see them edged 7-6, went to extend their lead to 10 runs with 3 more runs in the final seventh inning and shut out Singapore in the bottom seventh inning.
China play Singapore tomorrow before the deciding match for a berth in the final against arch rivals Chinese Taipei on Friday.
Singapore on the other hand, having suffered two loses, could at best play for a third placing finish but they will have to contend with hosts Thailand who have only played one match and lost to China.
Besides, Singapore’s match against China will be a do-or-die mission because a loss will certainly rule them out of a third placing battle.
RESULTS
China 6 Philippines 7
Singapore 5 Chinese Taipei 12
Thailand 4 China 10
Philippines 15 Singapore 7
DAY 2 (Thursday) fixtures
Chinese Taipei v Thailand (9.00am)
China v Singapore11.00am)
Philippines v Chinese Taipei (1.30pm)
(All Thai time)