Group A Points Table: India, Pakistan and Thailand Explained
The Group A stage of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 has produced a clear picture of the teams that performed best during the league phase. India finished at the top after winning all three of their matches, while Pakistan secured second place with two victories. Thailand finished third after one win, and Hong Kong, China ended the group stage without a point.
The final standings also determined the semi-final lineup. India qualified as Group A winners and will face Bangladesh in the first semi-final, while Pakistan will meet Group B winners Sri Lanka in the second semi-final. The results underline the importance of consistency during a short three-match group stage.
Final Group A Points Table
The completed Group A standings are:
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
| 1 | India Women | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | +5.471 |
| 2 | Pakistan Women | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | +0.927 |
| 3 | Thailand Women | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -2.050 |
| 4 | Hong Kong, China Women | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -3.583 |
India were the only unbeaten team in Group A, while Pakistan’s two wins were enough to secure the second qualification position. Thailand managed one victory but could not collect enough points to challenge the top two. Hong Kong lost all three matches and finished at the bottom.
India Women Finish First
India’s campaign was the standout performance in Group A. They collected the maximum six points by winning all three matches.
Their first victory came against Thailand, with India winning by 94 runs. They then defeated Hong Kong, China by an even larger margin of 137 runs before completing the group stage with a seven-wicket victory over Pakistan.
These results explain India’s exceptional net run rate of +5.471. The large margins in their first two matches had a major influence on that figure.
India’s group-stage campaign was impressive not only because they remained unbeaten but also because they found different ways to win.
Against Thailand, their batting established a strong total before the bowlers completed the job. Against Hong Kong, Smriti Mandhana produced one of the tournament’s most memorable innings. Against Pakistan, India’s spin attack dominated the opposition batting lineup.
India’s Batting Made a Major Difference
One of the biggest reasons for India’s position at the top of the table was their batting strength.
Shafali Verma produced an aggressive 64 against Thailand, helping India build a competitive total. The biggest individual performance came against Hong Kong, when Smriti Mandhana scored 124 from 64 deliveries.
Mandhana’s innings included 14 fours and seven sixes. It also produced a historic achievement, as she surpassed Mithali Raj to become the leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket.
The ability of India’s top order to score quickly gave the team a major advantage. Their big totals also helped create the large winning margins that ultimately contributed to their outstanding net run rate.
India vs Pakistan Was a Statement Result
The final Group A match between India and Pakistan was one of the most anticipated games of the league stage.
India’s bowlers dominated the contest, dismissing Pakistan for only 55. The Indian spin attack caused significant problems, and Pakistan were unable to build the partnerships needed to produce a competitive total.
India then reached the target in just 8.4 overs and won by seven wickets.
The victory gave India a perfect three wins from three and confirmed their position at the top of Group A.
For Pakistan, however, the defeat did not prevent qualification because their earlier victories had already placed them in a strong position.
Pakistan Women Finish Second
Pakistan finished Group A with four points after winning two of their three matches.
Their campaign began with a 35-run victory over Thailand. They then suffered a seven-wicket defeat against India before responding strongly against Hong Kong, China.
That final victory was particularly important. Pakistan defeated Hong Kong by 72 runs, earning their second win and securing four points.
Their final net run rate of +0.927 was comfortably better than Thailand’s -2.050, giving Pakistan a clear second-place finish.
Pakistan’s ability to recover from the heavy loss to India was an important feature of their campaign. Rather than allowing that result to affect their qualification hopes, they responded with a convincing victory in their final group match.
Nashra Sundhu’s Six-Wicket Performance
Pakistan’s victory over Hong Kong also produced one of the standout bowling performances of the tournament.
Nashra Sundhu claimed six wickets for only seven runs. Her spell helped Pakistan restrict Hong Kong to 71 after Pakistan had scored 143 for eight.
The performance was particularly significant for Pakistan because it demonstrated the strength of their bowling attack heading into the knockout stage.
Sundhu’s form could become important in the semi-final against Sri Lanka. Pakistan will need their bowlers to produce another disciplined performance if they are to overcome the defending champions.
Thailand Women Finish Third
Thailand finished third in Group A with two points.
They won their opening match against Hong Kong, China by six runs, giving themselves an encouraging start to the tournament. However, they then suffered defeats against India and Pakistan.
Thailand’s defeat against India came by 94 runs, while Pakistan defeated them by 35 runs.
The two losses meant Thailand could not challenge Pakistan for the second qualification spot. They finished with one victory and two defeats.
Despite finishing third, Thailand’s opening victory showed that they could compete closely with another developing Asian side. Their performance also provided valuable international experience against two of the region’s strongest teams.
Thailand’s Narrow Win Over Hong Kong
Thailand’s best moment came in the tournament opener.
They scored 120 for nine before restricting Hong Kong to 114 for seven, winning by six runs.
The match was much closer than the eventual Group A standings might suggest. Hong Kong remained in contention during the chase, but Thailand managed to defend their total and collect two valuable points.
That victory ultimately became the only win on Thailand’s record.
Hong Kong Finish Fourth
Hong Kong, China finished fourth in Group A without a victory.
They lost their opening match against Thailand by six runs, followed by a heavy defeat against India and then another loss to Pakistan.
Their final record was three matches, three defeats and zero points. Their net run rate of -3.583 was also the lowest in the group.
However, the campaign still offered useful experience for the Hong Kong players. Playing against India and Pakistan exposed the squad to two of the strongest teams in Asian women’s cricket.
Why India’s Net Run Rate Was So High
India’s +5.471 net run rate stands out immediately when looking at the Group A table.
The main reason was the size of their victories. India defeated Thailand by 94 runs and Hong Kong by 137 runs. Those results created a significant positive impact on their net run rate.
Their seven-wicket win over Pakistan was also enough to maintain a very strong overall figure.
Net run rate can become important in short tournaments because teams play only a limited number of group matches. Although Group A did not require a tie-breaker to decide the two qualifiers, India’s huge NRR demonstrated just how dominant their campaign was.
Why Pakistan Qualified Despite Losing to India
Pakistan’s qualification illustrates why winning multiple group matches is more important than the result of one particular game.
Their defeat against India left them with one loss, but their victories over Thailand and Hong Kong gave them four points.
Thailand could only collect two points, meaning Pakistan had already created enough separation to finish second.
Their final victory over Hong Kong confirmed the qualification position and allowed Pakistan to enter the knockout stage with momentum.
What the Group A Table Tells Us
The final standings show a clear separation between the four teams.
India finished comfortably ahead with six points and an outstanding net run rate. Pakistan followed with four points, while Thailand had two. Hong Kong finished without a point.
The table therefore accurately reflects the results across the group stage.
India were the dominant side, Pakistan were strong enough to qualify despite one defeat, Thailand showed flashes of competitiveness, and Hong Kong gained valuable experience against stronger opposition.
Group A’s Impact on the Semi-Finals
The final Group A positions directly determined the next stage of the competition.
India, as Group A winners, will face Bangladesh, who finished second in Group B.
Pakistan, as Group A runners-up, will face Sri Lanka, who topped Group B.
This means the Group A results have created two very different semi-final challenges.
India will enter their match against Bangladesh as one of the tournament favourites after an unbeaten group campaign. Pakistan face a difficult assignment against defending champions Sri Lanka, who also finished their group stage unbeaten.
India vs Bangladesh: Group A Winners’ Challenge
India’s first semi-final will be against Bangladesh.
The Indian team enters the knockout stage with confidence after three consecutive victories. Their batting has been led by players such as Mandhana and Shafali Verma, while their spin attack has been one of their biggest strengths.
However, the semi-final will be a fresh contest. Bangladesh have already secured their place among the final four and will be looking to challenge India’s unbeaten record.
For India, the priority will be maintaining the consistency that helped them dominate Group A.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: A Tough Test
Pakistan’s second-place finish means they now face Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka topped Group B with six points after winning all three of their matches. They are also the defending champions, making the semi-final a major test for Pakistan.
Pakistan’s bowling attack, particularly the form of Nashra Sundhu, gives them a potential route to victory.
The key question will be whether Pakistan can produce enough runs for their bowlers to defend.
Group A in Perspective
The Group A points table tells the story of a highly successful campaign for India and a strong recovery by Pakistan.
India’s three wins put them firmly at the top, while Pakistan’s two victories secured second place. Thailand’s single win was not enough to keep them in qualification contention, and Hong Kong ended the tournament without a point.
The final standings were:
India Women — 6 points, +5.471 NRR
Pakistan Women — 4 points, +0.927 NRR
Thailand Women — 2 points, -2.050 NRR
Hong Kong, China Women — 0 points, -3.583 NRR
The Group A story is now complete, but its results have set up an exciting knockout stage. India will attempt to continue their unbeaten run against Bangladesh, while Pakistan will need to overcome defending champions Sri Lanka.
For India, the goal is now clear: convert their dominant group-stage campaign into a place in the final. For Pakistan, the challenge is to build on their two victories and produce their best cricket when the pressure is highest.
With the group table settled and the semi-finals confirmed, Group A has provided the foundation for what promises to be an exciting finish to the Women’s Asia Cup 2026.
