Pakistan booked their place in the Women’s Asia Cup semi-finals after spinner Nashra Sandhu’s triggered a 72-run drubbing of Hong Kong, China at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Monday night.

Nashra took six wickets as Pakistan defended 143 runs — that included a stand-out contribution by Shawaal Zulfiqaar — to set their last-four date against Sri Lanka on Friday.

Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana, for the third match in a row, chose to bat first, looking to undo the damage of Pakistan’s hefty seven-wicket loss against India at the same venue on Saturday, where they were bowled out for their lowest ever T20 international score.

The teams were unchanged from their previous matches, both of which came against India.

Pakistan once again got off to a steady start with the bat, with openers Muneeba Ali and Shawaal easing their way to a 24-run opening partnership in three overs until Muneeba, who was too early on a shot, was bowled by Iqra Sahar.

Gull Feroza at number three continued her unconvincing run in the tournament as she was dismissed leg-before-wicket on three off four balls after two consecutive ducks in the previous matches.

Ayesha Zafar got off to a swift start with back-to-back boundaries when she came out to bat at number four to join Shawaal at the crease.

Shawaal played perhaps the most convincing knock coming from a Pakistan batter this tournament, constructing a discerning yet well-paced knock of 47 off 35 balls, rotating strike and sending the odd ball away to ensure Pakistan could launch off a stable base.

Ayesha Zafar fell after a handy knock of 26 off 19 balls, mistiming Joyleen’s Kaur slower tossed-up delivery, and unable to get it through the in-field. The wicket meant Pakistan were 82-3 at the halfway mark of their batting innings.

Pakistan once again suffered from a middle-overs wobble as Shawaal, Sadaf Shamas and Eyman Fatima lost their wickets — all of them to Kaur — within the space of nine runs, with the team suddenly finding themselves at a shaky 101-6.

Fatima (run-a-ball 24 not out) calmed Pakistan’s jitters, taking the team to 127 along with Tuba Hassan (14 off 13), who hit a four and a six off Kary Chan’s bowling before muddling an attempt to come down the track and getting bowled by her.

Though the last two overs were quiet, coupled with the wicket of Umm-e-Hani, a six off the penultimate ball by the captain meant Pakistan ended their innings at 143-8, an above par total on a tricky pitch.

Disciplined start

Pakistan got off to a splendid start with the ball, with Fatima and Sadia Iqbal striking in consecutive overs, leaving Hong Kong at 1-2 at the two-over mark.

Fatima bowled Mariko Hill off the last ball of the first over, ending a run-less Asia Cup campaign for the batter, while Sadia pinned Miles lbw off her first ball.

Yasmin Daswani and Kary Chan fought well, putting together a 31-run partnership off 44 balls and ensuring Pakistan’s moments of indiscipline with the ball were punished.

Nashra’s spectacular evening

The introduction of Nashra, however, was not just decisive for Pakistan, but all-crushing for Hong Kong.

She caught and bowled Daswani for the third wicket, breaking Hong Kong’s resistance and then single-handedly opened the floodgates. She dismissed Marina Lamplough soon after, before tempting Bibi to play across the line — which she did, ultimately getting caught by Sadaf at midwicket.

Shanzeen Shahzad did the same, caught by Sadia at extra-cover, and Alison Siu was bowled on the very next ball, with Nashra securing her maiden T20I five-wicket haul.

She soon became the first Pakistani to get a six-wicket haul in T20 internationals, as she bowled Sahar off the last ball of her four-over spell, finishing on stellar figures of 6-7.

With Nashra having ripped through the line-up, Hong Kong eventually were bowled out for 71 runs, their innings extended only because of missed chances in the field by Pakistan. Umm-e-Hani took the final wicket of Joyleen Kaur to secure the 72-run win for Pakistan. Nashra was unsurprisingly named player of the match.

With this result, Hong Kong, who needed to chase the total in 12.3 overs to qualify for the semi-finals were knocked out, while Pakistan secured a spot in the final four.