India started their ACC Women’s Asia Cup campaign with a dominant win at the expense of Thailand.

Dubai stayed witness to some ruthless bowling after India’s engine room had a little shocker followed by a grandiloquent start.

Winning the toss, Thailand opted to bowl first. Smriti Mandhana (19) and Shafali Verma got off to a roaring start. Verma did the heavy lifting as she dealt in fours and sixes while Smriti was happy to play the second fiddle.

The two added 38 runs for the opening stand before Mandhana was run out by Aphisara Suwanchonrathi.

Debutant Pratika Rawal joined forces with Verma and the two regulated the partnership with fine command. Verma brought up her 19th half-century in T20Is from just 26 balls, rocking six fours and three sixes en route. Rawal fell for a 18-ball-22 to Suleeporn Laomi, eventually breaking the 54-run stand.

Things were going fairly well for India until their middle-order was struck by a lightning bolt and they lost all control.

They lost seven wickets in a span of 29 runs, going from 108/2 to 137/9. It all started with the scalp of Harmanpreet Kaur (5) followed by Verma, who fell for a 36-ball-64.

Late resistance from Kranti Gaud who stayed unbeaten for 15 from just eight balls, clobbering a four and a six, saw India add 22 crucial runs for the final wicket.

They concluded their innings at 159/9 at the end of 20 overs. Suleeporn Laomi led the charge for Thailand with figures of 3/26.

Reeling from the sudden collapse, India knew that they needed to make a statement with the ball in their hands and their bowlers stepped foot on the gas and had no intentions of taking it off.

Kranti Gaud struck in the very first over to remove Natthakan Chantham (4) while Nandani Sharma followed that up with the scalp of Phannita Maya (6).

Despite Nannapat Koncharoenkai’s defiance, Thailand couldn’t stand up to India’s bowling might. Shree Charani was the next to strike, claiming the wicket of Suwanchonrathi (1) while doubling her tally by getting hold of Chanida Sutthiruang (5).

Wickets kept on falling for Thailand as Koncharoenkai fought a lost battle. She eventually succumbed to Deepti Sharma for 41 and was the last one to bite the dust. India bundled out Thailand for a paltry 65, securing a monumental win by 94 runs.

Deepti Sharma and Nandani Sharma claimed three wickets each while Sree Charani had a brace to her name. Shafali Verma secured the Player of the Match award for her scintillating half-century.

India return to action on Thursday where they meet Hong Kong.