Pakistan record consolation win over Netherlands to fold a pathetic WC journey
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BRISTOL: Pakistan signed off their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a consolation 37 runs win over Netherlands in Bristol on Friday.
This is the first victory from Pakistan in the Women T20 World Cup thanks to Gull Feroza’s unbeaten half-century and disciplined bowling.
After losing their opening four Group-stage matches, Pakistan produced a complete performance to defend a modest total of 126, bowling out the Netherlands for 89 in 18 overs.
Opener Gull Feroza anchored Pakistan’s innings with an unbeaten 63 from 52 deliveries, striking nine boundaries in a composed knock that earned her the Player of the Match award.
Pakistan suffered an early setback when Muneeba Ali Siddiqui was dismissed for 12 with only 15 runs on the board, caught by Iris Zwilling off Hannah Landheer.
Feroza then rebuilt the innings alongside Ayesha Zafar, sharing a crucial 79-run partnership for the second wicket. Ayesha contributed 32 off 29 balls, including two fours and a six, before she was caught off Silver Siegers in the 14th over.
Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals in the closing overs, with Saira Jabeen and Tuba Hassan making brief contributions, but Feroza remained unbeaten until the end as Pakistan posted 126-6 from their 20 overs.
Zwilling was the standout bowler for the Dutch side, returning figures of 2-19 from four overs.
The Netherlands made a positive start to their chase through Heather Siegers, who struck 24 off 16 balls with five boundaries before being trapped lbw by Diana Baig.
Captain Babette de Leede fought to keep the chase alive with a patient 30 from 41 deliveries, but Pakistan’s bowlers tightened their grip as wickets fell steadily.
With the Netherlands seemingly well placed at 76-3 after 14 overs, Pakistan triggered a dramatic collapse, taking the remaining seven wickets for just 13 runs.
Ayesha Zafar proved decisive with a double-wicket maiden in the 15th over, dismissing Robine Rijke lbw before Sanya Khurana was stumped later in the over. She added a third wicket in her next over when Frederique Overdijk was caught by Saira Jabeen to finish with impressive figures of 3-13.
Nashra Sundhu removed Sterre Kalis for 12, while Phebe Molkenboer was run out by Eyman Fatima as Pakistan tightened their hold on the contest.
Captain Fatima Sana then wrapped up the innings in emphatic fashion, claiming three wickets in five deliveries during a triple-wicket maiden in the final over. She bowled De Leede with a pinpoint yorker before dismissing Silver Siegers and Caroline de Lange off successive deliveries to complete figures of 3-12.
The haul took Fatima’s tally to 11 wickets for the tournament.
Although Pakistan finished their campaign with a convincing victory, they bowed out after defeats to India, South Africa, Bangladesh and Australia in their previous four matches.
Summarized scores:
Pakistan 126-6 in 20 overs (Gull Feroza 63 not out, Ayesha Zafar 32; Iris Zwilling 2-19)
Netherlands 89 all out in 18 overs (Babette de Leede 30, Heather Siegers 24; Fatima Sana 3-12, Ayesha Zafar 3-13)
Pakistan won by 37 runs.
