there it is - New Zealand will now visit surroundings they have not seen since 2016! Into the semi-finals and on a day where they needed to get the job done, they have done so very, very handsomely! Heartbreak for Pakistan, and heartache for India! Teased up full on middle and leg, and Iqbal gives in to the temptation. Has a heave at it but all she manages is a tame lob to mid on. Embraces, smiles and handshakes all around in the NZ camp. They needed to win tonight. And they have won tonight. At a canter really. And they now move to the semi-final, and will contest the games that matter at this year's T20 World Cup!
NZ Women vs PAK Women, 19th Match, Group A at Dubai, Women's T20 World Cup, Oct 14 2024 - Match Result
8:55pm That will be that for tonight. A dramatic day, which possibly ended with the outcome that felt most likely at the start: a New Zealand win and the elimination of India and Pakistan. And, if today was not enough drama, we have something very similar in store tomorrow, with England taking on the West Indies (and the identity of the Group B qualifiers still not set in stone). We hope to have your company for that fixture. Until then, this is goodbye from Ranjith and myself. Take care, everyone!
Sophie Devine, New Zealand captain: (On reaching the semi-final) Probably has not quite sunk in yet. Incredibly proud of this group. 2016 was the last semi-final we made and it has been a long time. We will celebrate tonight but we are looking forward to the next phase of this tournament. Results have not gone our way leading into this tournament. But the thing I am most proud of is we stuck to the processes. When we get it right, we can beat any team in the world. To do that in the World Cup, I am incredibly proud. Eden was outstanding again tonight and to see them (the youngsters) step up is amazing. (On the conditions) They (Pakistan) were incredibly clever. The wicket was not as bad but with the lack of pace…you have to access different areas. (On their score) 140 would be nice (we said after the powerplay). You always want more but we knew that (110) had to be enough. We knew they were going to have a crack. Was always going to be an exciting game and about who held their nerve better. We get a day off tomorrow, then a couple of days of training and then going in with open eyes and enjoying it. I just want them to lap up the experience. It is going to be a big occasion but it is also a huge part of their career. We will be soaking it up. There will be pressure, it will be nerve-racking but that is why you play cricket. We are just going to go out there and enjoy ourselves.
Fatima Sana, Pakistan captain: (On the game) We were good with the ball but we have to improve our batting and fielding. We were not up to the mark. I think our seniors should step up in these kinds of matches. As a bowling unit, we were up to the mark but we need to improve our batting, otherwise we cannot survive in women's cricket. That is the main thing (that we will take back from this tournament).
Eden Carson, Player of the Match: I have no words. Pretty intense at the start but glad we got it over the line. (Chat at the innings break) We looked at how they bowled and tried to do what they did, and bowl to our plans. Came on top today, very happy (with that). Having Dar and Sana out there, both were quality batters and we knew we needed to get them out, and thankfully we did.
8:37pm New Zealand are in. Pakistan are out. India are out. And that is perhaps the easiest summation of this evening. Pakistan may have made it slightly easier for NZ with their gung-ho shot selection, but they deserve a bit of credit for actually trying to step out of their comfort zone and daring the improbable (which ultimately became the impossible). All they have now is the second-lowest all-out total in Women's T20 World Cup history, and their lowest total at this competition, which given the courage and bravery they tried to show, seems a little unfair.
As for New Zealand, well, their bowlers and their fielders turned up. They held onto almost everything that came their way, and pulled off two run-outs as well. Kerr was again their most successful bowler, with Carson bagging two. Mair, Jonas and Tahuhu, meanwhile, picked up a wicket apiece, and they will now have a shot at making the final, which they have not done since the 2010 edition in the Caribbean.
googly on a full length just outside off. Iqbal dangles her bat out in hope and is beaten on the outside
Iqbal is the last batter in. Sandhu is at the other end and she has not faced a ball yet either
Sana bites the dust too, and NZ are on the brink of qualification now. They can see it, and they can feel it! Flighted up full outside off and Sana, knowing she is running out of partners, decides to take on the inside-out lofted stroke. Does not get it out of the middle and cuts across it too much. Bates judges it well, back-tracks and sends the Pakistan skipper on her way!
safe on the catch. Just! But not on the run out! It is all happening here in the ring of fire! Angled in full on leg stump. Sana clears her front leg and swings at it with all her might. Slices it up and luckily for her, the ball lands just in front of Green, running to her right at long on. But wait. The drama is not over. Far from it. Aroob wanted to come back to keep her captain on strike but despite the dive, she is caught inches short of her crease. Superb work by Green, and another nail into the coffin has been hammered!
Tautoru: "As long as Fatima Sana is there, Pakistan (and India) can believe. Pakistan need a run a ball. " -- Don't think the run-rate is the problem. The wickets are...
flighted up full on off. Aroob comes forward and pokes it back to the bowler
fired in on a length outside off. Goes on with the arm and sneaks past the outside edge of Aroob's prod
back of a length outside off. Aroob goes back and taps it gently into the off side
Aroob joins her skipper
lobbed up, and Carson snatches another semi-final hope away from India! Given plenty of air on a length outside off. Grips in the surface and spins back. Sohail hangs her bat out and clinks it tamely towards Carson, who tracks it all the way and then sprawls forward to her right to snare the chance. Carson is over the moon; Pakistan (and India), not quite!
back of a length on off. Sohail hangs back and prods it towards mid wicket
floated up full outside off. Sana comes forward and pushes it towards deep cover point
ashish: "Safe to say India is out too?" -- Not yet. As long as Sana is there, Pakistan (and by extension, India) will believe
And...breathe. This has been a breathless passage of play. Something or the other has happened every over and now, it seems only a matter of time before Pakistan are officially eliminated. Which means it is now between India and New Zealand for the final spot. If NZ win, they are through. If they don't, they aren't. Much simpler scenarios...
slides this down leg and that is a loose ball. Goes past Gaze too. Given as runs, so maybe Sohail got something on it
Sohail in at 8
beautiful bowling, and Dar has been done in, hook, like and sinker! Fizzed through devilishly on a full length outside off. Plenty of revs on this, meaning the ball drifts in, drops on Dar and then rags past the outside edge. She had to come out of her crease to reach out for it but once the ball went past the bat, Gaze was in the game. She made no mistake and Kerr, like she almost always does, provides NZ with the breakthrough!
back of a length on leg stump. Sana tucks it off her pads towards deep square leg
googly on a full length on off. Sana, looking to go inside-out, gets herself into an awkward tangle and shanks it back to the bowler
tossed up full outside off. Sana gives herself a bit of room and lofts it over extra cover for a couple of runs
full on leg stump. Dar brings out the sweep and nails it towards deep backward square leg
off-pace on a full length on off. Dar nurdles it into the mid wicket region and retains strike
speared down leg. Left alone by Dar and called a wide
off-pace on a full length on the pads. Sana stabs it towards long on and settles for a single
Sana has been timing the ball really well
slanted in full on middle and off. Sana takes a step down the track and pushes it towards extra cover
1W | 1W | |||
1W | ||||
2W | ||||
1W | ||||
Dubai International Cricket Stadium | |
Toss | New Zealand Women, elected to bat first |
Series | |
Season | 2024/25 |
Player Of The Match | |
Match number | WT20I no. 2094 |
Match days | 14 October 2024 - night (20-over match) |
Umpires | Vrinda RathiDRS |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee | |
Points | New Zealand Women 2, Pakistan Women 0 |
Over 12 • PAK-W 56/10