White Ferns seal semi spot, eliminate India

14 Oct 2024 AAP

Match Report

14 Oct 2024 AAP

New Zealand's win over Pakistan means Australia will play in the first semi-final, to be held in Dubai in the early hours of Friday morning AEDT

All matches live and exclusive on Prime Video. Sign up here for a 30-day free trial

New Zealand have booked a T20 World Cup semi-final place as runners-up to Australia in Group A after beating Pakistan in Dubai, knocking out India in the process.

Briefly, India had dared to hope that their bitterest rivals would do them a favour and hand them a place in the finals by beating the White Ferns.

T20 World Cup finals race: How the groups are shaping up

However, having restricted the Kiwis to 6-110 in Dubai, Pakistan collapsed from 1-19 to 56 all out to lose by 54 runs.

New Zealand thus claimed second place in Group A and a semi-final spot at a T20 World Cup for the first time since 2016.

India, effectively by dint of their opening match defeat to New Zealand, missed out, also for the first time since 2016.

Pakistan's 56 was the second lowest total in the competition's history, beaten only by the 46 Bangladesh managed against West Indies in 2018, and four lower than Pakistan's previous worst, against England in 2009.

New Zealand were overjoyed to advance // Getty

They did have some excuse. Pakistan had the chance of qualifying themselves, but only if they chased down their target in less than 11 overs. On a difficult pitch that meant they were forced into extravagant shots that they too often failed to execute.

However, there was no excuse for the eight catches Pakistan put down in the field, allowing New Zealand to score far more than they should have done.

Truly, catches win matches! 😅

Which missed chance of Team Pakistan do you believe had the biggest impact on the game?

Let us know in the comments below 👇 pic.twitter.com/NfpuB5nooo
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 14, 2024

"It hasn't sunk in yet," said New Zealand captain Sophie Devine.

"Results haven't gone our way leading into this tournament but what I am most proud of is we stuck with our processes and our belief.

"When we get it right we can beat any team so to do this at a World Cup is something I am incredibly proud of."

A special moment for these three! The first time since 2016 that the WHITE FERNS have made a @T20WorldCup semi-final. #T20WorldCup #CricketNation 📷 = Getty pic.twitter.com/mWEADryJ4q
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) October 14, 2024

New Zealand opted to bat and began well with Suzie Bates (28) and Georgia Palmer (17) putting on 41 off 39 balls but Pakistan's spinners bowled with pace off and were hard to get away.

Nashra Sandhu took 3-18 and Omaima Sohail 1-14 off her four overs while Nida Dar had three catches dropped in the final over as she finished with 1-26.

New Zealand have ended their semi-final drought // Getty

A 38-run partnership between Devine (19) and Brooke Halliday (22) helped New Zealand post a defendable total which soon looked a challenging one.

Muneeba Ali scored 15 off 11 but had no support from the rest of the top order. Sana top-scored with 21 at No.5 but no one else reached double figures.

New Zealand held their catches, ran two batters out and secured a stumping with Amelia Kerr (3-14 off 2.4 overs) and Eden Carson (2-7 off three) the pick of the bowlers.

Eden Carson took two key wickets // Getty

New Zealand will now play the winner of the tournament's last group match between England and West Indies on Tuesday (Wednesday 1am AEDT) with either one of those two or South Africa set to play Australia in the other semi-final.

Most Wickets

Player	Total
1 Amelia Kerr A Kerr	15
2 Nonkululeko Mlaba N Mlaba	12
3 Afy Fletcher A Fletcher	10
4 Rosemary Mair R Mair	10
5 Annabel Sutherland A Sutherland	9
6 Eden Carson E Carson	9
7 Megan Schutt M Schutt	8
8 Arundhati Reddy A Reddy	7