NEW Zealand are through to the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup after a fascinating game against Pakistan in Dubai.
New Zealand’s qualification for the knockout stages of the tournament comes at the expense of both India and Pakistan, following a 54-run win for the White Ferns in Dubai on Monday.
Matchday opponents Pakistan knew they could qualify if they chased down a target of 111 in quick time, while India would have qualified instead of both teams had Pakistan still gone on to win in a slower fashion.

But a combination of superb bowling from New Zealand and a Gung-Ho approach from Pakistan saw the match race to a conclusion in just 11.4 overs of the second innings, as Pakistan crashed to 56 all out.
Earlier, Suzie Bates top-scored with 28 and many of New Zealand batters got starts, but Pakistan’s spinners kept the total under control, with Nashra Sandhu the pick of the bowlers with 3/18.

Catches were shelled throughout the innings under the lights in Dubai, and the eventual size of the target, coupled with the NRR equation, proved too much for Pakistan in the end.

Facing a tantalising equation of needing to reach their 111 runs in 10.4 overs to progress on NRR, Pakistan came out swinging at the start of the second innings, with Muneeba Ali (15 from 11) setting the tone.
But Muneeba, Aliya Riaz (0), Sadaf Shamas (2) and Iram Javed (3) all departed early as the required rate began to soar.

And wickets continued to tumble as attacking intent undid a Pakistan side not used to playing in such a manner.
Fatima Sana had returned to the XI after missing the previous match due to the sad passing of her father, and she was the only batter other than Muneeba to reach double figures, hitting an excellent 21 (23).

But the captain had little support and the game rushed to a conclusion as Pakistan were bowled out for just 56.
Melie Kerr finished with the pick of the figures, coming into the attack after much of the early damage had already been done to bag 3/14, including the key wickets of Sana and Nida Dar, before wrapping up the win by dismissing Sadia Iqbal.

It was the excellent Eden Carson who played the biggest part in taking away Pakistan’s momentum, with figures of 2/7 from three overs helping build the scoring rate pressure to unmanageable levels.

Earlier, it was New Zealand captain Sophie Devine who won the toss and decided to bat first against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

And the White Ferns got off to a strong start, reaching 39/0 at the end of the powerplay with Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer looking in good touch.
But Pakistan hit back through the middle overs, as Nashra Sandhu bagged both openers.

Plimmer was first to go for 17 (from 14 balls), with Bates falling two overs later for 28 (29).
And the dangerous Melie Kerr struggled to get going, scrapping to 9 (17) before being caught by returning Pakistan captain Fatima Sana, her second grab of the innings.

Sophie Devine and Brooke Halliday rebuilt, steering New Zealand towards a decent total, but the excellence of Pakistan’s spinners meant that an insurmountable first-innings score was well out of reach heading into the death overs.

A smart stumping from Muneeba Ali ended Halliday’s time in the middle (22 from 24), and the skipper took two more catches to send back Devine (19 from 25) and Maddy Green (9 from 7).

But eight catches went down in all in the innings, including three in the final over, as Pakistan missed the opportunity to restrict New Zealand even further.

New Zealand’s win means they join Australia as qualifying from a competitive Group A, but neither side yet knows their semi-final opponents.

England face West Indies in the last group match today, with both teams, and South Africa, in contention to qualify.
All matches at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be held in the two host cities of Dubai and Sharjah. (ICC Media)