Kiwis book their seat in the semis
New Zealand roared into the semi-final of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 at the expense of subcontinental nations India and Pakistan. They beat Pakistan comprehensively by 54 runs in Dubai to seal their place in the last four, finishing the group stage with three wins from four games.
New Zealand managed to put a sub par score of 110 for 6 in their innings but Pakistan in reply, were bowled out for only 56. Amelia Kerr (3-14) and Eden Carsen (2-7) pioneered the victory for New Zealand. Apart from  registering their lowest total in world T20Is, Pakistan also endured a miserable day dropping as many as eight catches when they were out on the field.
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Incidentally, Pakistan were in with a shout to qualify having to chase the target within 10.4 overs to pip both India and New Zealand on NRR. They opted to go all-guns blazing and promoted renowned finisher Aliya Riaz to the top of the order. The move proved to be futile as Riaz was caught at mid-off for a duck off Eden Carson. But Muneeba Ali, who survived a LBW shout and a drop catch off Rosemary Mair’s bowling, did what Riaz failed to do. She lofted a boundary over the bowler’s head before she hit Lea Tahuhu for four in the next over.
The experienced Tahuhu bounced back with a full inwinger which castled the stumps of Muneeba, sending her back for just 15. It turned into chaos soon after, as Fran Jonas bowled Sadaf Shamas off her first-ball and Iram Javed was run-out courtesy of a direct-hit by Tahuhu from short third-man. Sidra Amin was deceived by a slower-ball off Mair – hearing the death rattle behind her – for a golden duck.
Nida Dar and Fatima Sana realised that the target was well-beyond their grasp to overcome within 10.4 overs and decided to play for the win, as they hit a couple of boundaries. But Kerr foxed Dar with a lovely flighted delivery, dragging her out of her crease in an easy stumping for Isabella Gaze.
Omaima Sohail and Syed Aroob Shah followed Dar back to the pavilion in the next two overs. Fatima Sana was then caught by Suzie Bates, all but ending Pakistan’s resistance. Kerr soon wrapped it up as Sadia Iqbal offered a simple catch to Bates.
Earlier on, New Zealand got off to a steady start courtesy of Bates and Georgia Plimmer. With the occassional boundary and rotation of strike, they moved to 39 for 0 in the PowerPlay. Nashra Sandhu in her first over saw the back of Plimmer, and subsequently dried up the scoring rate.
Sandhu’s slow pace saw the back of Bates in the next over with the veteran batter caught at long-on. In an attempt to release the pressure, Kerr fell too and suddenly New Zealand were only 67 for 3 in 14 overs. Brooke Halliday and Sophie Devine had a 38-run partnership which took New Zealand close to the 100-run mark. Gaze and Maddy Green took them past the three-figure mark which proved to be more than enough in the end to take the White Ferns to their first T20 World Cup semifinal since 2016.
