Pakistan secured a place in the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 semi-finals after defeating Hong Kong, China by 72 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Shawaal Zulfiqar’s attacking 47-run innings and Nashra Sandhu’s outstanding six-wicket haul powered Pakistan to a convincing victory.
The result gave Pakistan their second win of the tournament and secured second place in Group A, behind India.
Pakistan will now face Group B leaders Sri Lanka in the semi-final at the same venue on September 11.
The defeat ended Hong Kong’s campaign without a win. They finished at the bottom of Group A.
Thailand also missed out on a semi-final place after remaining third in the group with two points.
Pakistan Post 143 Runs Despite Hong Kong Pressure
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana won the toss and elected to bat first.
Pakistan finished their 20 overs at 143/8 despite strong bowling from Hong Kong.
Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar provided Pakistan with a positive start. The opening pair added 23 runs before Muneeba was dismissed for six in the third over.
Pakistan suffered another setback when Gull Feroza was dismissed for three in the fifth over. Their score fell to 33/2.
Shawaal then combined with Ayesha Zafar to rebuild the innings.
The pair produced a crucial 47-run partnership for the third wicket.
Shawaal top-scored with an impressive 47 from 35 balls, hitting six boundaries.
Ayesha Zafar contributed 26 from 19 balls, including four fours.
Hong Kong fought back through Joyleen Kaur. She dismissed Sadaf Shamas for five and Eyman Fatima for one, leaving Pakistan at 101/6.
Fatima Sana then provided stability in the closing overs.
She shared a 26-run seventh-wicket partnership with Tuba Hassan, who scored 14 from 13 balls.
Tuba was dismissed in the 18th over.
Umm-e-Hani was also dismissed for one in the following over, but Fatima remained unbeaten on 24 from 24 balls to help Pakistan reach 143/8.
Kaur was Hong Kong’s most successful bowler. She finished with 4/19 from four overs.
Kary Chan and Iqra Sahar claimed two wickets each.
Nashra Sandhu Destroys Hong Kong Batting
Hong Kong needed 144 runs to win but struggled against Pakistan’s bowling attack.
They were bowled out for just 71 runs in 19 overs.
Nashra Sandhu produced the match-winning performance.
She claimed six wickets for only seven runs in four overs, recording Pakistan’s best-ever bowling figures in the shortest format.
Sadia Iqbal, Ayesha Zafar, Umm-e-Hani and captain Fatima Sana took one wicket each.
Hong Kong’s batting collapsed under constant pressure.
Kary Chan provided some resistance after coming to the crease early in the innings.
She scored a fighting 30 from 47 balls and remained Hong Kong’s leading scorer.
Chan also added 31 runs with wicketkeeper-batter Yasmin Daswani for the third wicket.
Daswani scored 13 from 18 balls.
Joyleen Kaur was the only other Hong Kong batter to reach double figures, scoring 10.
Chan’s resistance ended when Ayesha Zafar bowled her with the first delivery of the 16th over.
Pakistan then completed a comfortable 72-run victory.
Pakistan Face Sri Lanka in Semi-Final
Pakistan’s victory confirmed their place in the last four of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026.
They finished second in Group A behind India and will now meet Sri Lanka, the Group B leaders.
The semi-final will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 11.
With Shawaal providing momentum with the bat and Sandhu producing a record-breaking spell with the ball, Pakistan will enter the semi-final with strong momentum and confidence.
