Overview
- Pakistan defeated Hong Kong by 72 runs to secure a semi-final place in the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup, a result confirmed on Monday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
- Batting first, Pakistan posted 143 for 8 with Shawaal Zulfiqar top-scoring on 47, Ayesha Zafar contributing 26, and captain Fatima Sana finishing unbeaten on 24.
- Left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu ripped through Hong Kong with figures of 6 for 7 from four overs, the best bowling performance by a Pakistani woman in a T20 international.
- Hong Kong were bowled out for 71 in 19 overs with Kary Chan top-scoring on 30 and Joyleen Kaur taking four wickets, leaving Hong Kong winless and bottom of Group A.
- Pakistan’s win sets up a semi-final meeting with Sri Lanka on September 11 and keeps Pakistan’s short-format campaign alive as preparation for other regional events on spin-friendly Dubai surfaces.