A Bitter-Sweet Ending for Pakistan
There is something almost poetic about finishing a tournament campaign with your best performance of the competition, even when qualification is long off the table. That is precisely the situation Pakistan found themselves in at Old Trafford, where they produced a composed, clinical display to beat a winless Netherlands side by 37 runs in their final ICC Women's T20 World Cup group stage fixture. For a squad that will have plenty to reflect on over the coming weeks, this result at least provides a sliver of optimism heading into the off-season.
Feroza and Ayesha Lay the Platform
Pakistan's innings was built on a foundation laid by opener Gull Feroza and Ayesha Zafar, who combined for a second-wicket partnership of 79 runs from just 61 deliveries. Feroza was the standout performer with the bat, finishing unbeaten on 63 from 52 balls — a knock full of intent and composure that gave Pakistan's total genuine substance. Ayesha chipped in with a tidy 32 before departing, and those two contributions proved decisive given that five of their teammates failed to reach double figures. Dutch seamer Iris Zwilling was the pick of the Netherlands attack, claiming 2-19 in a disciplined spell. Pakistan closed on 126-6 from their 20 overs — not a total that looked unassailable on paper, but one that would prove more than sufficient.
Netherlands Stumble Fatally in the Chase
The Netherlands began their pursuit of 127 with genuine purpose. Heather Siegers provided a bright opening contribution of 24 from 16 balls before being trapped lbw by Diana Baig, and despite that early setback, Babette de Leede steadied the ship with a measured knock of 30 from 41 deliveries. At 76-3, the Dutch were still very much in the contest and, at that stage, the betting market would have tightened considerably on the outcome. What followed, however, was a collapse of almost inexplicable proportions. Seven wickets crashed for just 13 runs across four overs, and the Netherlands found themselves bowled out for 89 in the 18th over — 37 runs short of their target.
Fatima Sana Seals It in Dramatic Fashion
The decisive moment arrived when Fatima Sana removed both De Leede and Silver Siegers in consecutive deliveries, reducing the Dutch to a state from which there was no realistic recovery. Caroline de Lange managed to fend off the hat-trick ball, but she was dismissed two balls later to compound Netherlands' misery. Fatima finished with 3-12 — an exceptional return — while Ayesha Zafar contributed 3-13 with the ball to cap a fine all-round performance. The lower-order simply had no answer to the accuracy and movement Pakistan's spinners and seamers generated, and the innings folded with alarming speed.
Final Thoughts: A Hollow Win With Seeds of Hope
Pakistan's T20 World Cup campaign will ultimately be judged a disappointment, and rightly so. But this final-match victory offers the coaching staff something tangible to work with — specifically the performances of Feroza and the bowling duo of Fatima and Ayesha Zafar. Netherlands, meanwhile, end the group stage without a win and with serious questions to answer about their batting frailty under pressure. For Pakistan, this result does nothing to shift the outright tournament odds, but it does remind us that on their day, they remain a side capable of clinical, match-winning cricket.
Scorecard: Pakistan 126-6 (20 overs) — Feroza 63*, Ayesha 32; Zwilling 2-19 | Netherlands 89 all out (17.5 overs) — De Leede 30, H. Siegers 24; Fatima 3-12, Ayesha 3-13. Pakistan won by 37 runs.
