The final Group A encounter at the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 turned out to be an absolute classic with New Zealand Women getting the better of Pakistan Women in what meant curtains for the Women in Blue as far as their campaign was concerned.
Opting to bat first, New Zealand got off the mark with a boundary on the very second delivery off Fatima Sana, in what was an emotional return for the full-time skipper of Pakistan who had recently been bereaved by the death of her father four days back. Despite it not being the best of starts for Sana after conceding 17 in her first two overs, they would probably have been the happier of the two sides after the powerplay. The seventh over brought about the first dismissal for Pakistan, with Sana redeeming herself with a catch.
Nashra Sandhu picked up her second wicket after dismissing Suzie Bates for a 29-ball 28-run knock. There were a quiet couple of overs that ensued post which Sana grabbed onto another opportunity to have the Kiwis three-down. Brooke Halliday tried her best to inject some impetus in the innings with a couple of boundaries off Syeda Aroob Shah in addition to some purposeful running, but it was not to be as even she got dismissed while trying to accelerate at the back-end. New Zealand ended up on what looked like a sub-par score during the innings break. Omaima Sohail was the pick of the bowlers in terms of economy (3.50).
Also Read: Want India to be a team that can score 400 in a day and also bat two days for draw: Gautam Gambhir
As for the run-chase, both the openers were dismissed in successive overs. A maiden over by Eden Carson was the perfect catalyst for Fran Jonas who cleaned up Sadaf Shamas on the very first delivery of her spell. It was a disastrous first six for Pakistan as a first-baller for Sidra Amin on the fourth delivery of the last over of the phase left them with half the batters departed to the shed. It was down to the duo of the former and current skipper of Pakistan Women to lead their charge towards the target from thereon.
Just when it was seeming that a partnership between Nida Dar and Fatima was brewing, Amelia Kerr accounted for her first of the evening with a beautifully dipping delivery which completely beat Dar in the flight. With Sana stranded at the other end, all she could do was witness her side getting crushed under the rubble as the couple of overs saw Pakistan get skittled out, with Kerr ending up with a three-wicket haul after being the latest to be coming into the attack. New Zealand Women were through to the semi-final after inflicting a third straight loss to Pakistan’s name to knock not only them but their arch-rivals out of the competition with a dominating 54-run victory.
Here’s how X reacted to Pakistan women’s vs New Zealand women’s match
Fatima Sana falls and so the hopes of Pakistan and India, New Zealand defended 111 against Pakistan and all with this, both India & Pakistan are out from women’s T20 World Cup 2024. #PakistanCricket #T20WorldCup #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/l26qWtmNtV
— Ahmad Haseeb (@iamAhmadhaseeb) October 14, 2024
New Zealand are into the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup for the first time since 2016! 🏏👏 Both Pakistan and India have been eliminated from the tournament. #WomensT20WorldCup #NZvPAK #Cricket #TeamIndia #Pakistan
— OnTheBallRecap (@OnTheBallRecap) October 14, 2024
New Zealand beat Pakistan by 54 runs in ICC Women T20 World Cup 2024 🏏
Pakistan and India both are knocked out of the tournament.
New Zealand will join Australia in semifinal.#WomenT20WorldCup2024 pic.twitter.com/KBGH7d1Rf7
— Shahzaib Ali 🇵🇰 (@DSBcricket) October 14, 2024
New Zealand beat Pakistan and qualify for the semifinals, at India’s expense.
This is India’s first group-stage exit from the women’s T20 World Cup after 2016.
— Omkar Mankame (@Oam_16) October 14, 2024
New Zealand beat Pakistan and qualify for the semifinals, at India’s expense.
This is India’s first group-stage exit from the women’s T20 World Cup after 2016.
— Omkar Mankame (@Oam_16) October 14, 2024
New Zealand through to the semifinals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Pakistan losses and by a massive margin and takes India with it, out of contention. #T20WorldCup #PAKvNZ
— Lavanya 🎙️🎥👩🏻💻 (@lav_narayanan) October 14, 2024
#NewZealand bossed their last Group A game to qualify for the @ICC #T20WorldCup semi-final for the 1st time since 2016 🔥
They punished Pakistan Women by bowling them out for 56-runs 💪🔥
That means #India are out of the #T20WorldCup#WhateverItTakes #T20WorldCup #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/LvAKm1mT4z
— Selina Munsamy (@MunsamySelina) October 14, 2024
Pakistan all-out on 56 💥
– New Zealand women’s go through as both Pakistan & India knocked out.
NZ reached the semi final first time since 2016 T20 World Cup. pic.twitter.com/8HPncjDC1D
— Nawaz 🇵🇰 (@Rnawaz31888) October 14, 2024