Pakistan seal ICC Women's World Cup spot after beating Thailand in qualifier
Opting to bat first at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, Pakistan posted a competitive 205 for 6 in 50 overs, anchored by a composed 80-run knock from opener Sidra Amin, who struck nine boundaries in her 105-ball stay.
Pakistan's top order wobbled early, slipping to 85 for 4, with Shawaal Zulfiqar (6), Muneeba Ali (18), Aliya Riaz (7), and Sidra Nawaz (11) falling cheaply. However, a match-turning 97-run stand off 95 balls between Sidra and skipper Fatima Sana revived the innings.
Captain Fatima Sana remained unbeaten on 62 off 59 balls, hitting six fours and a six, accelerating the scoring rate in the final overs and guiding Pakistan past the 200-mark.
Thailand's bowlers kept things tight for much of the innings, with Thipatcha Putthawong returning figures of 2 for 26, while Maya and Kamchomphu chipped in with a wicket apiece.
In response, Thailand were bowled out for 118 in 34.4 overs, unable to handle Pakistan's disciplined bowling attack. Fatima Sana starred again with the ball, claiming 3 for 33 in 8 overs.
Nashra Sandhu and Rameen Shamim were equally effective, taking three wickets each to dismantle Thailand's batting lineup.
No Thai batter managed to reach 20, with Nannapat Koncharoenkai top-scoring with 19. Only three others reached double digits as regular wickets disrupted any hopes of a chase.
This win marked Pakistan's fourth consecutive victory in the qualifiers, securing their spot in the 2025 Women's World Cup and reaffirming their form heading into the mega event.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Express Tribune
Ireland unveil T20I squad for Pakistan series
A 14-member squad has been announced by Ireland for the three-match T20I series against Pakistan. Gaby Lewis will continue to lead the side, with Orla Prendergast serving as her deputy. The Ireland squad is bolstered by the return of off-spinner Freya Sargent, who makes her comeback after recovering from injury. Fellow spinner Lara McBride retains her place in the squad after an impressive debut series against Zimbabwe. The series serves as key preparation for Ireland as they gear up for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier, where they'll be aiming to secure a spot in next year's showpiece event. The two sides have faced off 19 times in T20Is, with Pakistan holding the upper hand, having won 15 of those encounters. However, in their last T20I series in 2022, it was Ireland who emerged victorious, clinching the series 2-1. Speaking on facing Pakistan after a succesful series against Zimbabwe, National Women's Selector Ciara O'Brien said, "After a strong 5-0 series win against Zimbabwe Women across formats under new Head Coach Lloyd Tennant, it's great to be able to move so quickly into what will understandably be a much tougher assignment against Pakistan Women in Clontarf for this T20I series." "With the upcoming matches, our preparation continues for the ICC Women's T20I World Cup Europe Qualifier in the Netherlands in a few weeks, so we're looking to see this latest momentum continued by the squad at Clontarf." Ireland Squad : Gaby Lewis (captain), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Laura Delany, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Jane Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Freya Sargent, Rebecca Stokell.
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Express Tribune
Women's T20 WC Qualifier host revealed
Pakistan team in action during the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier in Lahore. Photo: ICC The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday confirmed that Nepal will host the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Qualifier, which is scheduled to take place from 12 January to 16 February 2026. This global qualifier will see ten teams battling for the four remaining spots at the 10th edition of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, set to be held in England and Wales from 12 June to 5 July 2026. The main tournament will feature 33 matches over 24 days across seven venues, including iconic grounds such as Old Trafford, Headingley, Hampshire Bowl, and Bristol County Ground, with the final to be played at the historic Lord's Cricket Ground. As for the Qualifier in Nepal, the ten participating teams will be split into two groups of five, followed by a Super Six stage and a Final. The full match schedule will be revealed in due course. Bangladesh and Ireland have already booked their spots in the Qualifier based on their participation in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024. Nepal and Thailand qualified via the Asia regional pathway, while the USA earned their place through the Americas region. The remaining five teams will be decided through upcoming regional qualifiers, with two spots each for Africa and Europe, and one for the East Asia-Pacific region. Meanwhile, the ICC on June 18 unveiled groupings and venues for the 2026 main event in England and Wales: Group A will include defending champions Australia, 2024 runners-up South Africa, India, Pakistan, and two teams from the global Qualifier. Group B features hosts England, 2020 champions New Zealand, Sri Lanka, former champions West Indies, and two Qualifier teams. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals, scheduled for 30 June and 2 July at The Oval, followed by the final on 5 July at Lord's.
Express Tribune
27-07-2025
- Express Tribune
England seek revenge against Spain in Euro final
England are aiming to retain their title and avenge defeat at the hands of Aitana Bonmati's Spain in the Women's World Cup final of two years ago when the rivals meet again on Sunday to decide who will win Euro 2025. The showdown at St Jakob-Park in the Swiss city of Basel promises to be a fascinating contest between a Spain side looking to add the continental crown to their world title, and an England team who can secure back-to-back European Championship victories, and make up for the heartache of 2023 in the process. Spain beat England 1-0 in Sydney to win the World Cup for the first time, with Olga Carmona scoring the only goal -- another victory for La Roja on Sunday would cement their status as the dominant force in women's international football. "We have so much respect for them and the quality they have, but we also believe in ourselves, that we can really step up," said England's Ella Toone on Friday. Toone, 25, scored the first goal for the Lionesses when they beat Germany 2-1 after extra time at Wembley to win the last Women's Euros three years ago, and has played a key role in Switzerland on their run to a third straight major tournament final. "It is amazing. To make three consecutive finals for England is something that we can all be so proud of," she said at the team's base in Zurich. That remarkable run has come under the management of Sarina Wiegman, the Dutch coach who took charge in 2021 and immediately turned them into contenders. "She is a great manager, someone we all have a lot of belief in and we know we are in good hands. It is an unbelievable achievement for her," added Toone of Wiegman, who also won the Euros with her native Netherlands in 2017. It has not been an easy road to the final for England this time, with the Lionesses coming back from the brink of elimination more than once. Their title defence started with a 2-1 defeat by France in their opening group game three weeks ago. The Lionesses recovered to reach the knockout stages by hammering the Netherlands and Wales, but then required a remarkable comeback from two goals down to eventually beat Sweden on penalties in the quarter-finals. They then trailed to Italy in the semi-finals in Geneva until a 96th-minute goal by Michelle Agyemang forced extra time, and Chloe Kelly scored the winner just as another shoot-out loomed. "The belief in the squad, the resilience and the togetherness in this group is just so special," said Kelly, who has made a big impact from the bench in the last two rounds. But it remains to be seen if that resilience will be enough against a brilliant Spain side led by reigning Ballon d'Or Bonmati. The Barcelona midfielder -- who was in hospital with viral meningitis just before the tournament started -- scored the extra-time winner as Spain edged Germany in the last four to reach a first ever European Championship final. "All the hard work we have put in has paid off," said coach Montse Tome, who took over from Jorge Vilda following the 2023 World Cup triumph. Spain could have as many as seven starters on Sunday who featured in that game in Sydney, including Alexia Putellas -- she was only a bit-part player at the World Cup as she recovered from a knee injury, but Bonmati's predecessor as Ballon d'Or winner has been much more influential here. The theme of revenge could also apply to the Spaniards, who were knocked out of the last Euros by England, going down in extra time in the quarter-finals. Just two months ago an Arsenal side featuring several members of Wiegman's current England squad defeated Barcelona in the final of the Women's Champions League. Seven of the players who started for Barcelona that day in Lisbon are likely to start for Spain on Sunday, including Bonmati and Putellas. If they come out on top they will be the first nation to win the Women's World Cup and Euros back-to-back since Germany in 2007 and 2009, and they can also follow in the footsteps of their men's counterparts -- Spain beat England in the final of the men's Euro last year.
