DUBLIN - In a Group A game, Nain Abidi shone with a 27-ball 38 to help Pakistan Women defeat Netherlands Women by 20 runs after the match was reduced to nine overs per side due to a rain delay in match of the Women's World Twenty20 Qualifiers. Pakistan, electing to bat, got off to a slow start, losing both their openers Javeria Khan and Javeria Rauf inside two overs. But Abidi, who was named the Player of the Match, and Bismah Maroof stabilised the innings with a 60-run third-wicket partnership. Maroof departed for 25, but Abidi remained unbeaten and struck three fours during her knock to take Pakistan to a competitive total of 72 for 4.
Netherlands began their innings slowly, Pakistan keeping them well below the required run-rate. Opener Helmien Rambaldo top scored with 15, and Netherlands could only manage three boundaries throughout the innings and, ultimately, their failure to accelerate the scoring meant they could only put up 52 in their nine overs. Despite the defeat, Netherlands will join Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Ireland in the semi-finals, which will be played on July 29.
Offspinner Christabel Chatonzwa, took four top-order wickets and conceded just 12 runs in four overs, as Zimbabwe Women secured a 29-run victory over Thailand Women in a low-scoring Group A match
Zimbabwe, put in to bat, started slowly, losing opener Thandolwenkosi Mlilo in the third over and managing just 47 after 10 overs. Nonhlanhla Nyathi top scored for the team with a 47-ball 28, but no significant partnership materialised, as Thailand restricted Zimbabwe to 103 for 8.
Nattaya Boochatham was the pick of the bowlers for Thailand, finishing with figures of 4-0-17-2. Thailand were never convincing in their chase and lost openers Boochatham and Pundarika Prathanmitr within the first four overs. The Zimbabwe bowlers, led by Player-of-the-Match Chatonzwa, were all tidy and incisive, and bowled at an economy rate of less than six. Somnarin Tippoch put up a fighting 24, but none of the other batsmen managed to reach double figures as Thailand were bowled out for 74 in 18.4 overs. Both teams will compete in the tournament's Shield semi-finals, along with Japan and Canada, the other two teams that failed to make the main semis.
Semi-finals
Ireland v Pakistan
Sri Lanka v Netherlands