A fine all-round display from Ayesha Zafar helped Pakistan finish the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 on a high note as they beat the Netherlands by 37 runs in Bristol.
Ayesha scored 32 in a 94-run partnership with Gull Feroza as Pakistan, with a world ranking of eight, made 126 for six from their 20 overs.
And after a good start from the Dutch, that proved more than enough, thanks in large part to Ayesha’s three for 13 with the ball, with captain Fatima Sana chipping in with the final three wickets to wrap up the win.
Tournament debutants the Netherlands, ranked 14th in the world, were right in the match for large parts, but struggled to pick up the scoring rate against the Pakistani spinners, before Ayesha swung the game Pakistan’s way for good.
GULL CARRIES HER BAT FOR PAKISTAN
Having elected to bat, Pakistan were given a good start by Muneeba Ali (12), who hit a couple of boundaries off Iris Zwilling before the bowler got a measure of revenge taking a simple catch off the bowling of Hannah Landheer.
Her opening partner Gull Feroza took a more measured approach early on, joined at the crease by Ayesha Zafar, who played the more attacking role.
Gull started to find her groove though, including two boundaries in a Landheer over to take Pakistan to 64 for one at the halfway stage in the innings.
Ayesha had slowed a little but responded with a six over midwicket off Silver Siegers, only to fall the next delivery to bring an end to a 79-run stand. It was a familiar affair as Ayesha chipped a simple chance off Silver Siegers to sister Heather, going for 32.
Fatima Sana came in earlier than usual but went for three when she middled one off Zwilling but straight to Sterre Kalis, a wicket maiden stalling Pakistan’s progress.
Caroline de Lange got in on the act when she removed Eyman Fatima for a duck, before Heather Siegers outfoxed Iram Javed, who was stumped for two.
Gull (63 not out) was watching the wickets fall from the other end, with Saira Jabeen holing out off Zwilling for five before Tuba Hassan chipped in with an unbeaten seven in the final over to take Pakistan to 126 for six from their 20 overs.
AYESHA STEPS UP WITH BALL AS WELL AS BAT
Heather Siegers gave the Netherlands the perfect start to the chase with a cut for four off the very first ball.
She added two more in a row from Fatima Sana’s first over but her fine cameo was ended by Diana Baig, who responded to two further fours by trapping Siegers LBW for 24.
Opening partner Phebe Molkenboer fell the following over after going for a run that was not there, out for seven after smart work from Eyman Fatima.
Those two wickets took the sting out of the chase as the Pakistani spinners restricted the run-rate, with the Dutch 54 for two after 10 overs.
Nashra Sundhu was particularly tight and she got the better of Sterre Kalis with an arm ball, bowling her for 12.
Boundaries were proving elusive but Babette de Leede finally found a way through, hitting successive fours off Ayesha Zafar.
Ayesha came back with a double wicket maiden, trapping Robine Rijke (6) leg before and then having Sanya Khurana stumped for a duck.
And her next over effectively clinched the win for Pakistan, Saira Jabeen taking a brilliant catch to remove Frederique Overdijk before Ayesha and Muneeba Ali combined to run out Iris Zwilling.
Fatima brought herself back on and the captain got the big wicket of De Leede for 30 with a brilliant yorker, followed by Silver Siegers the very next ball.
Scores in brief
Pakistan v South Africa – Bristol County Ground, Bristol
Pakistan: 126/6 in 20 overs (Gull Feroza 63 not out, Ayesha Zafar 32; Iris Zwilling 2/19, Silver Siegers 1/17)
Netherlands: 89 all out in 18 overs (Babette de Leede 30, Heather Siegers 24; Fatima Sana 3/12, Ayesha Zafar 3/13)
Result: Pakistan win by 37 runs
mother hen
Manufacturing rugby balls caused a very unusual and tragic death – In rugby’s early days, Richard Lindon’s leather shop was in high demand for balls. He enlisted the help of his wife Rebecca, but she tragically passed away due to the germs she ingested from the bladders while blowing them up. Lindon searched for an alternative to pig’s bladders from that point onward.
Fire Fish
The first rugby sevens tournament was held in 1883 in Melrose, Scotland. The shorter, faster version of rugby was created to raise funds for the local club and has since grown into an international sport, making its Olympic debut in 2016.