New Zealand advanced to the semi-finals of the Women's T20 World Cup, delivering a commanding 54-run victory against Pakistan in their final group stage match on Monday. Outstanding bowling performances from Amelia Kerr and Eden Carson were pivotal in this triumph. Carson, who earned the Player of the Match title, recorded impressive figures of 2 for just 7 runs in her three overs, while Kerr contributed 3 wickets for 14 runs, helping to bowl Pakistan out for a mere 56 runs in just 11.4 overs.
Batting first, New Zealand managed to set a total of 110 for 6 over 20 overs, making them the second team from Group A to reach the semi-finals, following defending champions Australia. The defeat ended Pakistan's hopes of progression and also eliminated India from the tournament, a consequence of their earlier loss to New Zealand.
Pakistan's batting collapse began early, struggling to cope with New Zealand’s bowling, and falling to 28 for 5 by the end of the powerplay. Skipper Fatima Sana, returning after a family tragedy, top-scored with 21 runs but could not salvage her team’s innings.
Reflecting on the match, Sana acknowledged the need for improvement in batting and fielding, highlighting the eight dropped catches that hampered their performance. New Zealand's captain, Sophie Devine, expressed excitement about the next stage of the tournament, emphasising their focus on future challenges.