Pakistan secured their place in the Women’s Asia Cup semi-finals with a 72-run victory over Hong Kong China at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Nashra Sandhu produced the best bowling figures by a Pakistan player in women’s T20 internationals, taking six wickets for just seven runs as Hong Kong China were bowled out for 71 in 19 overs.
Pakistan had earlier made 143 for eight after winning the toss and choosing to bat.
The result confirmed Pakistan’s second-place finish in Group A and set up a semi-final against Sri Lanka. Hong Kong China ended their campaign without a win but once again showed signs of progress against a higher-ranked opponent.
Pakistan began positively, scoring 50 runs during the six-over powerplay despite losing Muneeba Ali and Gull Feroza.
Shawaal Zulfiqar led the innings with 47 from 35 balls, hitting six fours. She shared a 47-run partnership with Ayesha Zafar, who made 26 from 19 deliveries.
Pakistan were well placed at 80 for two in the 10th over, but Hong Kong China fought their way back into the match through Joyleen Kaur.
The off-spinner removed Ayesha before dismissing Shawaal, Sadaf Shamas and Eyman Fatima. She finished with four for 19 from her four overs as Pakistan slipped from 80 for two to 101 for six.
Captain Fatima Sana steadied the innings with an unbeaten 24 from 24 balls. Her knock included two sixes and helped Pakistan add valuable runs in the closing overs.
Hong Kong China’s chase suffered an immediate setback when Mariko Hill and captain Natasha Miles were dismissed with only one run on the board.
Yasmin Daswani and Kary Chan attempted to rebuild the innings with a 31-run third-wicket partnership. Daswani made 13, while Kary provided the main resistance with 30 from 47 balls, including four boundaries.
The match changed decisively when Nashra entered the attack.
The left-arm spinner dismissed Daswani with a return catch before bowling Marina Lamplough. She then removed Maryam Bibi, Shanzeen Shahzad, Alison Siu and Iqra Sahar as Hong Kong China collapsed from 32 for two to 48 for eight.
Nashra completed her four overs with figures of six for seven and was named player of the match. Fatima Sana, Sadia Iqbal, Umm-e-Hani and Ayesha Zafar took one wicket each.
Pakistan captain Fatima said the victory had provided an important lift following the team’s heavy defeat by India in its previous match.
“We needed confidence before the semi-final, and that is what we got,” she said.
However, Fatima admitted Pakistan must improve its batting before facing an unbeaten Sri Lanka side in the knockout stage.
“I think on the batting side we need more strike rotation and more partnerships,” she said. “We will sit together and discuss these things because we know it is a knockout match.”
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Hong Kong China captain Natasha Miles said her team had approached the chase with greater freedom than in its previous game against India.
“We are definitely capable of getting more runs on the board,” Miles said. “But I liked that we all went out there with intent, a little bit differently from the way we did against India.
“We learnt quite a lot from that game, so I am proud of the attitude with which we went about it. There are still little things that we can work on.”
Miles said Hong Kong China’s bowlers had performed well at different stages of the tournament, particularly when they disrupted Pakistan’s innings during the middle overs. However, she said greater consistency was needed against Asia’s leading sides.
“We need to keep backing ourselves to hit the lines and lengths that are difficult and continue putting pressure on the batters,” she said.
She also praised Nashra’s match-winning spell, admitting Hong Kong China had struggled to find a way to counter the Pakistan spinner.
“She bowled really well and caused a lot of problems for our batters,” Miles said. “We didn’t quite have all the answers to get past her. To produce figures like that was fantastic, and she made it harder for us to get closer to the score.”
Despite losing all three group matches, Miles said playing against Thailand, India and Pakistan had given Hong Kong China a clearer idea of what was required at this level.
“The more we play competition at this level, the more we are going to grow,” she said. “We are capable of doing it, but the more we play, the more we will understand where we need to be and how we can get there.”
Miles added that the players’ different cultural backgrounds were a strength for the team, with most members having grown up and played cricket together in Hong Kong.
Pakistan will now turn their attention to Sri Lanka, knowing another strong bowling performance may be needed to earn a place in the final.
