Feroza Anchors Pakistan to Competitive Total
Pakistan ended their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign with a 37-run victory over the Netherlands in a low-scoring Group B encounter. An unbeaten half-century from Gull Feroza laid the foundation for Pakistan’s highest total of the tournament as they posted 126/6 before dismissing the Dutch side for just 89.
After choosing to bat first, Pakistan endured another cautious start and lost Muneeba Ali early in the innings. However, Gull Feroza and Ayesha Zafar rebuilt brilliantly with a vital 79-run partnership for the second wicket.
Feroza gradually increased the scoring rate as the innings progressed, finding boundaries regularly after the halfway stage. She remained unbeaten on 63, playing the anchor’s role perfectly while Ayesha contributed a valuable 32.
Although Pakistan suffered a late collapse, losing five wickets for just 24 runs, Feroza’s innings ensured they finished with a competitive total on a surface that offered assistance to the bowlers.
Dutch Bowlers Fight Back Late
The Netherlands responded strongly after Pakistan looked set for a score well beyond 140.
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Iris Zwilling produced an excellent spell, finishing with figures of 2/19, while Silver Siegers also claimed two wickets to trigger Pakistan’s middle-order collapse. The Dutch bowlers successfully restricted the flow of runs during the closing overs and gave their batters a realistic target to chase.
Heather Siegers Gives Netherlands Hope
The chase began brightly for the Netherlands thanks to Heather Siegers, who attacked confidently from the outset.
She raced to 24 from just 15 deliveries as the Dutch reached 31 inside the opening four overs and briefly looked in control of the contest. However, the turning point came when Pakistan captain Fatima Sana successfully reviewed an lbw decision after an initial not-out verdict. Ball tracking confirmed the dismissal, ending Siegers’ aggressive innings.
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From that moment, the momentum shifted completely in Pakistan’s favour.
Pakistan Spinners Tighten the Grip
Pakistan’s bowlers immediately capitalised after removing the dangerous Siegers.
A direct-hit run-out added further pressure before the spinners completely strangled the Dutch batting lineup. Nashra Sandhu bowled with outstanding control through the middle overs, conceding just eight runs from her three-over spell while claiming an important wicket.
The Netherlands struggled to rotate the strike as the required run rate climbed steadily. Regular wickets prevented them from building any meaningful partnerships, and their innings quickly unraveled.
Fatima Sana Finishes the Job
Captain Fatima Sana returned to finish the innings in style.
Bowling the final over, she dismantled the lower order by knocking over the stumps three times to finish with outstanding figures of 3/12. Ayesha Zafar also impressed with the ball, taking 3/13, while Pakistan’s disciplined bowling effort ensured the Netherlands lost their final seven wickets for only 13 runs.
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The Dutch side, after making a promising start, eventually collapsed for 89 as Pakistan completed a convincing 37-run victory.
Pakistan End Campaign on a Positive Note
While the victory did not alter either team’s position in the tournament, Pakistan produced one of their most complete performances of the competition.
Gull Feroza’s unbeaten half-century provided the platform, while the spinners and Fatima Sana’s clinical finishing with the ball completed a deserved win. For the Netherlands, another encouraging start with the bat ended in disappointment as a dramatic middle-order collapse denied them the chance to finish their campaign with a victory.
