Twitter Reactions: Clinical bowling performance by New Zealand Women inflicts third consecutive loss for Pakistan, India knocked out

The final Group A encounter at the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 turned out to be an absolute classic with New Zealand Women getting the better of Pakistan Women in what meant curtains for the Women in Blue as far as their campaign was concerned. 

Opting to bat first, New Zealand got off the mark with a boundary on the very second delivery off Fatima Sana, in what was an emotional return for the full-time skipper of Pakistan who had recently been bereaved by the death of her father four days back. Despite it not being the best of starts for Sana after conceding 17 in her first two overs, they would probably have been the happier of the two sides after the powerplay. The seventh over brought about the first dismissal for Pakistan, with Sana redeeming herself with a catch.

Nashra Sandhu picked up her second wicket after dismissing Suzie Bates for a 29-ball 28-run knock. There were a quiet couple of overs that ensued post which Sana grabbed onto another opportunity to have the Kiwis three-down. Brooke Halliday tried her best to inject some impetus in the innings with a couple of boundaries off Syeda Aroob Shah in addition to some purposeful running, but it was not to be as even she got dismissed while trying to accelerate at the back-end. New Zealand ended up on what looked like a sub-par score during the innings break. Omaima Sohail was the pick of the bowlers in terms of economy (3.50).

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As for the run-chase, both the openers were dismissed in successive overs. A maiden over by Eden Carson was the perfect catalyst for Fran Jonas who cleaned up Sadaf Shamas on the very first delivery of her spell. It was a disastrous first six for Pakistan as a first-baller for Sidra Amin on the fourth delivery of the last over of the phase left them with half the batters departed to the shed. It was down to the duo of the former and current skipper of Pakistan Women to lead their charge towards the target from thereon.

Just when it was seeming that a partnership between Nida Dar and Fatima was brewing, Amelia Kerr accounted for her first of the evening with a beautifully dipping delivery which completely beat Dar in the flight. With Sana stranded at the other end, all she could do was witness her side getting crushed under the rubble as the couple of overs saw Pakistan get skittled out, with Kerr ending up with a three-wicket haul after being the latest to be coming into the attack. New Zealand Women were through to the semi-final after inflicting a third straight loss to Pakistan's name to knock not only them but their arch-rivals out of the competition with a dominating 54-run victory.  

Here's how X reacted to Pakistan women's vs New Zealand women's match