BRISTOL: Pakistan women claimed their first win of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup by beating the Netherlands by 37 runs in their final group-stage match at the County Ground in Bristol on Saturday.

After losing fellow opener Muneeba Ali (12), Gull and Ayesha Zafar (32 off 29) added 79 before latter was caught off Silver Siegers with the score at 94-2 after 13.2 overs. Saira Jabeen and Tuba Hassan hit a boundary each in their single digit returns as Gull held the fort from one end.

After electing to bat first, Pakistan posted 126 for six, built around opener Gull Feroza’s unbeaten 63 off 52 balls, which featured nine fours. For the Netherlands, Zwilling returned two for 19.

In reply, Pakistan’s bowlers kept the Dutch batters in check as just two of them crossed the 20-run mark. They were bowled out for 89 in 18 overs as Pakistan ended their T20 World Cup campaign with a victory.

Opening batter Heather Siegers made a brisk 24 off 16 balls, striking five fours before Diana Baig trapped her leg-before-wicket. Captain Babette de Leede, batting at No.3, top-scored with 30 off 41 balls before becoming the first victim of her opposite number’s triple strike in the 18th over.

Pakistan sparked a dramatic collapse after the Netherlands were 76-3 in 14 overs, claiming the remaining seven wickets for just 13 runs.

Ayesha Zafar finished with impressive figures of 3-13. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana wrapped up the innings in style with a triple-wicket maiden in the final over, recording figures of 3-12 in three overs.

FIRST WIN FOR IRELAND

Also on Saturday, Ireland earned their first win at a Women’s T20 World Cup with a surprise victory over West Indies in Bristol.

After a fine all-round bowling performance restricted West Indies to 128-7, Orla Prendergast led Ireland’s chase with a stunning 63 from 44 balls.

Prendergast was dismissed in the 16th over with 21 runs from 28 balls still required, but Rebecca Stokell held her nerve with an unbeaten 16 to seal the win with 11 balls to spare.

Ireland have lost all of their previous 21 matches in five editions of the tournament and West Indies were winners in 2016.

West Indies’ batting line-up could not get going, with Hayley Matthews, Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin all scoring at a strike-rate of less than 100. That left too much for the lower order to do in order to catch up, despite Chinelle Henry’s 27 not out.

Spinner Cara Murray took two wickets for 13, including the key wicket of Matthews for 22.

Captain Gaby Lewis fell cheaply in reply, but Amy Hunter steadied the chase with a stand of 62 with Prendergast. Hunter was dropped on three and went on to make 28 before Prendergast accelerated through the middle overs.

On Friday, Sri Lanka kept alive their bid to reach the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals with a dramatic three-wicket victory over Scotland at Old Trafford, Manchester.

Sarah Bryce’s 47 from 33 balls and 34 from Darcey Carter took Scotland to 151-6 from their 20 overs. Chamari Athapaththu ignited Sri Lanka’s run chase with a blistering 16-ball 33, featuring six fours and one six. Harshitha Samarawickrama (27) and Hasini Perera (23) kept Sri Lanka in contention but they were still in danger at 118-6.

Nilakshi de Silva’s 21 not out proved crucial for Sri Lanka, who were taken to the last over before finally sealing the victory.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2026