Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. are out of the T20 World Cup as Pakistan women have lost their Group A fixture to New Zealand women by 54 runs and thus allowing the White Ferns to qualify for the semis alongside Australia.

New Zealand Women reached the T20 World Cup semi final for the fifth time and the first time since 2016.

Pakistan Women Squad: Muneeba Ali(w/c), Sidra Amin, Sadaf Shamas, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Aliya Riaz, Iram Javed, Tuba Hassan, Syeda Aroob Shah, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Fatima Sana, Tasmia Rubab

New Zealand Women Squad: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine(c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze(w), Leigh Kasperek, Lea Tahuhu, Rosemary Mair, Eden Carson, Hannah Rowe, Jess Kerr, Fran Jonas, Molly Penfold

“We are not up to the mark in batting. That’s not how you approach T20 cricket, it’s embarrassing and we need to change that and win games for Pakistan.” – Pakistan’s vice-captain Muneeba Ali admits her side’s major concern.

Toss has not been much of a factor in Dubai as the win split is a marginal 3-2 in favour of chasing sides against teams batting first. Even if a team does loss a toss, it’s not the end of their world.

Pakistan Women (Playing XI): Muneeba Ali(w), Sidra Amin, Sadaf Shamas, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana(c), Iram Javed, Syeda Aroob Shah, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal

New Zealand Women (Playing XI): Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine(c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze(w), Rosemary Mair, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson, Fran Jonas

NZ posted 160 against India here on a decent deck. The outfield is a little sand-based. Looks a solid track.

Not just NZ and PAK fans are interested in tonight’s match, it’s the Indian fans too, who will be glued to their screens to watch PAK-W vs NZ-W in Dubai. Let’s gooooo….

After a quiet start from NZ-W, the opening batters have punished the PAK-W bowlers with some boundaries to put the pressure back for the Women in Green in Dubai. With stakes running high tonight, every run and wicket will be vital for either side.

New Zealand women have gone wicketless in the powerplay as Pakistan women’s search for an elusive wicket goes on. Bates was dropped by Nashra right before the PP and that will hurt Fatima Sana’s side.

Suzie Bates lost her composure and ended up giving away her wicket as Pakistan women fought back in the contest. The White Ferns have Amelia Kerr and skipper Sophie Devine to guide their ship to safer position. PAK-W bowlers would sense a kill if another wicket goes down.

The White Ferns have lost Amelia Kerr and are three down in Dubai. Pakistan spinners have tightened the grip around the NZ-W batters and the latter are caving in to the pressure. The Run-rate has dropped below 5 and it’s upto Sophie Devine to take her side to a decent score now.

With last five overs to go, NZ-W need some big shots i.e. sixes if they are cross the 100-run mark. At the moment, PAK-W spinners are all over them like a rash, despite few fours from Halliday. A few wickets here and Fatima Sana knows she has a chance of bowling out the White Ferns.

Final overs coming up and PAK-W bowlers need wickets if they are to stifle the White Ferns to a below-par score. Sophie Devine is still out there and she needs to start firing if New Zealand can get to a respectable score in Dubai.

Nida Dar, you have our sympathy! The all-rounder saw three catches go down in one over with the final one being taken by skipper Fatima Sana. NZ-W managed 110/6 in 20 overs but it could have been way less if the Women in Green could have hung on to their catches. As the saying goes, “Catches Win Matches”.

If Pakistan Women chased this:
In 10.4 overs – PAK-W qualify
After 10.4 overs – IND-W qualify

PAK-W sent in Aliya Riaz to score the target of 111 but it did not work as the right-handed batter went without troubling the scorers. NZ-W need wickets here and it’s good to see Pakistan are going in for a result.

In the midst of chasing quick runs, Pakistan are four down inside five overs and things are looking bleak. It seems the batters are not going after the pitch of the ball and just looking to hoik over the fielders. With four wickets down, NZ-W will fancy their chances now.

Nida Dar and Fatima Sana are the last experienced pair at the crease for PAK-W and they want them to stick around and chase down the target. Pakistan are still in this but NZ-W need wickets and need to break down this partnership.

Pakistan Women need 57 runs in 60 balls but have just four wickets in hand. Nida Dar fell to Amelia Kerr as she was stumped. NZ-W sense blood here and few more scalps and they will have booked their spot in the finals. PAK-W’s hopes have been dashed (of making the semis) but could do IND-W a favour and try for a win.

I have no words. They played with intent at the start but our skills got us over the line. We looked at how Pakistan spinners did and we bowled to our plans and it came off tonight. Pretty happy with that, but an allround team effort. Nida Dar and Fatima Sana are quality batters and we knew that we would not win if we did not get them out. [on how she is feeling after reaching the semis] Pretty good (giggles).

We were good in the bowling but we need to improve our fielding and batting. We were not up to the mark in batting and the seniors need to step up in that kind of matches. As a bowling unit we were up to the mark, but we need to improve in batting, otherwise we can’t survive in women’s cricket.

(On reaching the semi-final) Probably has not quite sunk in yet. Incredibly proud of this group. 2016 was the last semi-final we made and it has been a long time. We will celebrate tonight but we are looking forward to the next phase of this tournament. Results have not gone our way leading into this tournament. But the thing I am most proud of is we stuck to the processes. When we get it right, we can beat any team in the world. To do that in the World Cup, I am incredibly proud. Eden was outstanding again tonight and to see them (the youngsters) step up is amazing. (On the conditions) They (Pakistan) were incredibly clever. The wicket was not as bad but with the lack of pace…you have to access different areas. (On their score) 140 would be nice (we said after the powerplay). You always want more but we knew that (110) had to be enough. We knew they were going to have a crack. Was always going to be an exciting game and about who held their nerve better. We get a day off tomorrow, then a couple of days of training and then going in with open eyes and enjoying it. I just want them to lap up the experience. It is going to be a big occasion but it is also a huge part of their career. We will be soaking it up. There will be pressure, it will be nerve-racking but that is why you play cricket. We are just going to go out there and enjoy ourselves.