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New Zealand’s Eden Carson celebrates after taking the wicket of Pakistan’s Omaima Sohail during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr, left, celebrates the wicket of Pakistan’s Nida Dar during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
New Zealand’s Eden Carson celebrates after taking the catch to get the wicket of Pakistan’s Omaima Sohail during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
New Zealand’s Eden Carson takes the catch to get the wicket of Pakistan’s Omaima Sohail during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
New Zealand’s Suzie Bates bats during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Pakistan’s Nashra Sandhu, right, celebrates the wicket of New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr with her captain Fatima Sana during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
New Zealand’s Eden Carson celebrates after taking the wicket of Pakistan’s Omaima Sohail during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
New Zealand’s Eden Carson celebrates after taking the wicket of Pakistan’s Omaima Sohail during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr, left, celebrates the wicket of Pakistan’s Nida Dar during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr, left, celebrates the wicket of Pakistan’s Nida Dar during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
New Zealand’s Eden Carson celebrates after taking the catch to get the wicket of Pakistan’s Omaima Sohail during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
New Zealand’s Eden Carson celebrates after taking the catch to get the wicket of Pakistan’s Omaima Sohail during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
New Zealand’s Eden Carson takes the catch to get the wicket of Pakistan’s Omaima Sohail during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
New Zealand’s Eden Carson takes the catch to get the wicket of Pakistan’s Omaima Sohail during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
New Zealand’s Suzie Bates bats during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
New Zealand’s Suzie Bates bats during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Pakistan’s Nashra Sandhu, right, celebrates the wicket of New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr with her captain Fatima Sana during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Pakistan’s Nashra Sandhu, right, celebrates the wicket of New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr with her captain Fatima Sana during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — New Zealand reached its first Women’s T20 World Cup semifinals in eight years after dismissing Pakistan for a record-low 56 on Monday.
Wrist spinner Amelia Kerr picked up 3-14 and New Zealand won by 54 runs in the last Group A clash.
New Zealand had to win to knock out India and join defending champion Australia in the semifinals. Pakistan had a slim chance but fell to the second lowest score in the T20 World Cup’s 25-year history.
Opener Suzie Bates scored 28 off 29 balls to help New Zealand register 110-6. Then they fielded brilliantly to dismiss Pakistan in 11.4 overs. They were led by Kerr, off-spinner Eden Carson, who took two wickets, and two run outs.
“Incredibly proud of this group; 2016 was the last semifinal we made. We will celebrate tonight,” New Zealand captain Sophie Devine said. “Results have not gone our way leading into this tournament. But the thing I am most proud of is we stuck to the processes. When we get it right, we can beat any team in the world.”
The last Group B match between England and West Indies on Tuesday will determine the semifinal matchups. Both teams and South Africa are in contention.
New Zealand opted to bat and made a good start of 41 off 39 balls between Suzie Bates and Georgia Palmer (17).
Bates hit three fours in her 28 before she fell to left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu, who took 3-18.
Kerr fell for 9 but a 38-run partnership between Devine (19) and Brooke Halliday (22) helped them to a sub-par total, but a challenging one for Pakistan’s gung-ho but frail batting.
Opener Muneeba Ali scored 15 off 11 without any support from the top order. Skipper Fatima Sana returned to the lineup and top-scored with 21 but they were the only two batters to reach double digits.
New Zealand’s persistent attack reduced Pakistan to 28-5 in 5.4 overs. A second collapse saw Pakistan lose its last five wickets for four runs in 12 deliveries to exit the tournament.
“We need to improve our batting, otherwise we cannot survive in women’s cricket,” Sana said.
The only lower total in tournament history was Bangladesh’s 46 against the host West Indies in 2018. Pakistan’s previous low was 60 against host England in 2009.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
