Pakistan women end T20 World Cup campaign with 37-run win over Netherlands

BRISTOL: Pakistan women signed off from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup with their first victory of the tournament, defeating the Netherlands by 37 runs in their last group-stage fixture at the County Ground on Saturday.

Asked to bat first, Pakistan made 126-6 in 20 overs, with opener Gull Feroza anchoring the innings through an unbeaten 63 from 52 balls. Her knock included nine fours and formed the backbone of Pakistan’s total after the side lost fellow opener Muneeba Ali for 12.

Gull and Ayesha Zafar put together 79 runs for the second wicket before Ayesha was dismissed for 32 off 29 balls, caught off Silver Siegers with the score on 94-2 after 13.2 overs. Saira Jabeen and Tuba Hassan struck a boundary each but were both restricted to single-digit scores. For the Netherlands, Zwilling returned figures of 2-19.

In reply, the Dutch innings never gathered sustained momentum as Pakistan’s bowlers limited the scoring and dismissed them for 89 in 18 overs. Only two Netherlands batters crossed 20, with opener Heather Siegers making a quick 24 off 16 deliveries, including five fours, before Diana Baig trapped her lbw.

Captain Babette de Leede, batting at number three, top-scored for the Netherlands with 30 off 41 balls. However, Pakistan turned the match decisively after the Dutch reached 76-3 in 14 overs, taking the last seven wickets for just 13 runs.

Ayesha Zafar starred with the ball as well, finishing with 3-13. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana closed out the innings emphatically, taking three wickets in a maiden final over to end with 3-12 from three overs.

Ireland upset West Indies

Also in Bristol on Saturday, Ireland registered their first-ever win at a Women’s T20 World Cup by beating West Indies. Ireland had lost all 21 of their previous matches across five editions of the tournament, while West Indies lifted the title in 2016.

West Indies were held to 128-7 after an effective Ireland bowling display. Hayley Matthews, Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin all scored at strike-rates below 100, leaving the lower order with too much to do despite Chinelle Henry’s unbeaten 27. Spinner Cara Murray claimed 2-13, including the wicket of Matthews for 22.

In the chase, captain Gaby Lewis fell early, but Amy Hunter and Orla Prendergast repaired the innings with a stand of 62. Hunter, who had been dropped on three, made 28, while Prendergast led the pursuit with 63 off 44 balls. Although she was dismissed in the 16th over with Ireland still needing 21 runs from 28 balls, Rebecca Stokell remained unbeaten on 16 to complete the chase with 11 balls left.

Sri Lanka keep semi-final hopes alive

On Friday at Old Trafford in Manchester, Sri Lanka stayed in contention for a place in the semi-finals with a three-wicket win over Scotland.

Scotland posted 151-6 from their 20 overs, built around Sarah Bryce’s 47 from 33 balls and Darcey Carter’s 34. Sri Lanka were given early impetus by Chamari Athapaththu, who struck 33 from just 16 deliveries, hitting six fours and a six.

Harshitha Samarawickrama scored 27 and Hasini Perera added 23 as Sri Lanka kept themselves in the chase, though they were under pressure at 118-6. Nilakshi de Silva then contributed an unbeaten 21 to help her side over the line in the final over.