West Indies will now face Pakistan in the final. -File Photo

KARACHI: Pakistan women cricket team reached the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2011 by beating South Africa by three wickets at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka, on Thursday.

Doing so they also improved on their world ranking to go up from their previous eighth position to either fifth or sixth, something which will become clear after the result of the final as the top team in the event will take the number five spot as the runners-up assumes number six.

South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first.

They made 180 runs at the loss of nine wickets at the end of the 50 overs as their middle order batters Cri-zelda Brits, captain Mignon du Preez and Marizanne Kapp all got run out.

Whoever was left fell victim to Pakistan’s medium pacer Asmavia Iqbal, who took three for 15, and leg break Sana Mir and off break Nida Dar, who picked up two and one, respectively.

Mignon remained the highest scorer with 41 runs in 61 balls. Pakistan women chased the meagre target in 47.5 overs while losing seven of their wickets.

Sana went for a duck when she was caught by Shandre Fritz of Shabnim Ismail’s ball in the first over. Nida, too, was caught by Yolandi van der Westhuizen off Dane van Niekerk’s ball for a duck.

Javeria Wadood Khan remained the top scorer at 47 off 75 balls. Nain Abidi, Marina Iqbal, Bisma Maroof and Asmavia contributed 28, 28, 23 and 22 runs, respectively, as South Africa’s Shabnin, Dane and Sunette Loubser picked up two wickets each. Asmavia was named player of the match.

In the other semi-final between Sri Lanka and West Indies at the Osmani Stadium in Fatullah, the latter beat the former by 58 runs.

Winning the toss and batting first, West Indies women put on 235 for five in 50 overs while Sri Lanka could only make 177 in their quota of 50 overs.

West Indies will now face Pakistan in the final to be played at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka, on Saturday (November 26). If Pakistan can beat them, they would avenge their earlier loss to the side during the group matches on November 17.