BRISTOL: Pakistan Women salvaged some pride when they defeated ICC Women’s T20 World Cup debutants Netherlands by 37 runs in their final league match on Saturday. The win meant Pakistan finished fourth in Group-1 with a solitary victory, while the Dutch side ended up at the bottom of the table.

Batting first, Pakistan stumbled to 126 for six after managing only 32 runs off their last 41 balls for the loss of five wickets. The bowlers, however, came to the party, dismissing the Netherlands for 89 in 18 overs. Ayesha Zafar — who had not bowled a single over in Pakistan’s first three matches — was the pick of the attack with three for 13, while captain Fatima Sana produced a triple-wicket maiden on her way to figures of three for 12.

Eyman Fatima endured a six-ball duck with the bat in her debut World Cup match, but more than made up for it in the field, running out two Dutch batters.

Gull Feroza scored Pakistan’s only half-century of the entire competition — and the third of her career — top-scoring with a superb 63 from 52 balls, including nine fours. Ayesha Zafar also batted with composure, striking 32 from 29 balls with two fours and a six. Between them, the pair dragged Pakistan from 15 for one to 94 for one, adding 79 for the second wicket from just 61 balls.

But once again, the middle and lower-order failed to capitalise. Pakistan’s last five wickets fell for just 24 runs as they limped to 126 for six. It was a now-familiar story: Pakistan also lost nine wickets for 53 against India, eight for 50 against South Africa, eight for 51 against Bangladesh, and seven for 36 against Australia in this tournament. Five collapses in five matches — a damning pattern that defined Pakistan’s campaign far more than any individual result.

The inexperienced Dutch side raced to 34 for four inside four overs but could not sustain the momentum, eventually folding to 89 all out — losing nine wickets for 55 runs in 14 overs. Captain Babette de Leede (30) and opener Heather Siegers (24) offered the only real resistance, while Sterre Kalis was the sole other batter to reach double figures with 12.

The win, at least, ensured Pakistan secured, at least, one victory at a T20 World Cup for the ninth straight edition since 2012 — but it could not paper over the cracks.

Pakistan’s overall performance confirmed they will miss out on next year’s inaugural, six-team ICC Women’s T20 Champions Trophy 2027 in Sri Lanka, scheduled for 14 to 28 February. The hosts will be joined by the five highest-ranked sides in the world — a group Pakistan, who finish the tournament exactly where they started in the ICC T20I Team Rankings at eighth, fall well short of. They trail sixth-ranked West Indies by 30 points.

The consequences run deeper still. Missing the Champions Trophy cut-off also means Pakistan will not feature in the women’s cricket event at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, where six teams will compete. The ICC is yet to confirm the exact qualification pathway, but with Pakistan 30 points adrift of sixth and only a handful of T20Is left to play before the qualification window closes, the gap looks, in all practical terms, unbridgeable.

There is one small mercy. Despite a forgettable campaign in England and Wales, Pakistan’s place at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2028 is already secure — they qualify automatically as hosts. It is scant consolation, but for a side that leaves this tournament with more questions than answers, it may be the only certainty they take home.

Scores in brief:

Match 26 — Pakistan Women beat Netherlands Women by 37 runs, Bristol

PAKISTAN WOMEN 126-6, 20 overs (Gull Feroza 63, Ayesha Zafar 32, Muneeba Ali 12; Iris Zwilling 2-19)

NETHERLANDS WOMEN 89 all out, 18 overs (Babette de Leede 30, Heather Siegers 24, Sterre Kalis 12; Fatima Sana 3-12, Ayesha Zafar 3-13)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH — Gull Feroza (Pakistan)

Pakistan’s other Group-1 results:

Match 6 — India Women beat Pakistan Women by 64 runs, Birmingham

Match 11 — South Africa Women beat Pakistan Women by two wickets, Birmingham

Match 15 — Bangladesh Women beat Pakistan Women by 23 runs, Southampton

Match 21 — Australia Women beat Pakistan Women by 113 runs, Leeds

Match 26 — Pakistan Women beat Netherlands Women by 37 runs, Bristol