New Zealand defeated Pakistan in the Women's T20 World Cup on Monday to send them, as well as India, out of the competition. Here are the final standings in Group A.
In the final match of Group A, Pakistan had to win by a big margin in order to qualify for the semi-finalalongside Australia. New Zealand would go through if they won, and if Pakistan won by a smaller margin than required for them to qualify, India would go through.
Early signs indicated this match could go New Zealand's way as they made it out of the Powerplay without losing a wicket, putting 39 runs on the board – a solid score in what has been a low-scoring tournament.
However, Pakistan were able to put the brakes on the White Ferns' scoring in the middle overs with three wickets in the space of five overs. Thereafter, Sophie Devine and Brooke Halliday put on 38 for the fourth wicket, but without any real urgency. Pakistan did not help themselves either, dropping an incredible eight catches throughout the innings.
The last two overs yielded 14 runs as New Zealand eventually scored 110-6. Nashra Sandhu was the standout bowler, with 3-18.
At the innings break, Pakistan knew they had to score 111 in 10.4 overs in order to secure qualification – not easy by any stretch, but also not out of the question. As a result, they shuffled their batting order, sending Aliya Riaz to open with Muneeba Ali. The change did not pay off, as she departed in the second over.
Iram Javed was also given a promotion to No.3, but by the time she departed for a 10-ball three in the fifth over, Muneeba and Sadaf Shamas had also been dismissed. In their attempts to swing for the hills, Pakistan lost five wickets in the Powerplay, but with very little – 28 runs to be exact – to show for it.
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Nida Dar and Fatima Sana then put on 24 for the fourth wicket, which ended in the 10th over when Dar was stumped off the bowling of Amelia Kerr.
With qualification out of the question, the next four wickets fell for the addition of just four runs as Pakistan slumped to 56 all out; the second-lowest total in Women's T20 World Cup history. All five of New Zealand's bowlers took a wicket, Kerr finishing with 3-14.
Result: New Zealand 110-6 in 20 overs (Suzie Bates 28, Nashra Sandhu 3-18) BEAT Pakistan 56 in 11.4 overs (Fatima Sana 21, Amelia Kerr 3-14) by 54 runs.
Final standings in Group A, 2024 Women's T20 World Cup
Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | N/R | Points | Net Run Rate |
Australia | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | +2.223 |
New Zealand | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | +0.879 |
India | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +0.322 |
Pakistan | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | -1.040 |
Sri Lanka | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | -2.173 |
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