Pakistan Women booked their spot in the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup after thrashing Hong Kong Women by 72 runs in Dubai on Monday. The match, the 11th of the tournament, turned into a lopsided affair almost from the start.
Having won the toss, Pakistan chose to bat first and put up a total of 143 for eight in their 20 overs. Shawaal Zulfiqar anchored the innings with a well-made 47, while useful contributions from Ayesha Zafar (26) and Fatima Sana (24) helped push the total past 140.
Hong Kong’s bowling attack found some success through Julien Corne, who picked up four wickets, while Iqra Sahar and Kary Chan chipped in with two scalps each.
Nashra Sandhu Stars as Pakistan Seal Semi-Final Spot
The chase never got going for Hong Kong, who were bowled out for just 71 runs while chasing 144. Pakistan’s bowling unit, led by an outstanding display from spinner Nashra Sandhu, gave the opposition batting order no room to breathe.
Sandhu finished with figures of six wickets for just seven runs, a spell that dismantled Hong Kong’s innings almost single-handedly. The performance also placed her name in the record books as Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker in a single innings of women’s T20 cricket, a feat that earned her the Player of the Match award.
Kary Chan was Hong Kong’s top scorer with 30 runs, though she found little support at the other end as wickets tumbled at regular intervals. At no stage did the chase look like troubling Pakistan’s total, with the bowlers maintaining consistent pressure throughout the innings.
The comfortable 72-run win rounded off a strong group-stage campaign for Pakistan Women and confirmed their progression to the knockout stage of the tournament. With this result, Pakistan Women now advance to face Sri Lanka Women in the semi-final, where a place in the final will be on the line.