Pakistan Women closed out the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 with a 37 run victory over the Netherlands in Bristol. Gull Feroza unbeaten 63 anchored a total of 126/6, before Fatima Sana and Ayesha Zafar combined for six wickets to bowl out the Dutch side for 89.
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| Pakistan players celebrate after bowling out the Netherlands for 89 runs in Bristol Women's T20 World Cup 2026. |
Pakistan Women brought their ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign to a close on a winning note, beating tournament debutants the Netherlands by 37 runs at the Bristol County Ground. The result handed Pakistan their first win of the tournament after four straight defeats, with both sides walking into the fixture already eliminated from semi final contention.
For a Pakistan side that had struggled for consistency throughout the group stage, this win mattered for reasons beyond the points table it kept alive a long-standing record of avoiding a winless campaign, something they had only suffered once before, back in 2010.
Match Summary: Pakistan 126/6 vs Netherlands 89 All Out
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana won the toss and chose to bat first under overcast conditions in Bristol, a decision that set up a tense, low scoring contest between two teams desperate to end their tournaments with something positive to show for it.
Batting first, Pakistan posted 126 for 6 in their 20 overs. In reply, the Netherlands were bowled out for just 89 runs, with their last seven wickets falling for only 13 runs as Pakistan spin attack squeezed the chase to a standstill.
Quick Scorecard
- Pakistan: 126/6 (20 overs) — Gull Feroza 63* (52), Ayesha Zafar 32 (29)
- Netherlands: 89 all out (18 overs) — Babette de Leede 30, Heather Siegers 24
- Result: Pakistan won by 37 runs
- Player of the Match: Gull Feroza
- Venue: Gloucestershire Cricket Ground (Bristol County Ground), Bristol, UK
Gull Feroza Unbeaten 63 Anchors Pakistan Innings
Pakistan innings did not begin smoothly. Opener Muneeba Ali Siddiqui made just 12 before falling to Hannah Landheer, caught by Iris Zwilling, with the score at 15. From there, the responsibility of building the innings fell almost entirely on Gull Feroza.
Feroza batted through the innings, finishing unbeaten on 63 off 52 deliveries, an innings built around nine boundaries that kept the scoreboard ticking even as partners came and went around her. It was Pakistan joint highest total of the entire tournament, a fitting way to end the campaign.
The Game Changing Partnership
The turning point of the innings came in the second wicket stand. Feroza and Ayesha Zafar put together a 79 run partnership, with Zafar contributing 32 off 29 balls before being dismissed off the bowling of Silver Siegers with the score at 94 for two.
That partnership gave Pakistan the platform to push for a competitive total, even though a late collapse saw them lose five wickets for just 24 runs after promoting Fatima Sana to the middle order, pulling them back from a total that had looked set to cross 140.
Netherlands Chase Falls Apart Against Pakistan Spinners
Chasing 127 to win, the Netherlands started with intent. Heather Siegers got them off to a bright start, and for a period it looked as though the Dutch side might actually have the better of the chase.
But the innings unravelled quickly once the platform-setters were dismissed. Once Siegers fell to Diana Baig, there was little support left in the middle order, and Pakistan spin attack effectively strangled the required run rate, watching the Netherlands "shrink away" as the asking rate climbed out of reach.
By the time the innings ended, the Netherlands had been bowled out for 89 in 18 overs a chase that promised much early on but folded under sustained pressure from Pakistan bowling unit.
Fatima Sana and Ayesha Zafar Star with the Ball
Pakistan bowling effort was built on the back of two standout performances. Ayesha Zafar returned figures of 3 for 13, while captain Fatima Sana finished with 3 for 12, the two combining to dismantle the Dutch middle and lower order.
Sana spell was particularly decisive. She yorked Babette de Leede, bowled Silver Siegers with the very next ball, and then ended the innings by cleanly bowling Caroline de Lange three wickets in five deliveries, finishing with figures of 3-1-12-3. That burst pushed her tournament wicket tally to 11.
Why the All Round Effort Mattered
What stood out about this performance was its balance. Pakistan didn't rely on a single match winner Feroza batting set the platform, Zafar contributed with both bat (32 runs) and ball (3 wickets), and Sana led from the front with both her captaincy and a decisive bowling spell. This kind of dual threat contribution is exactly what separates competitive T20 sides from sides that depend on one or two individuals to carry the load every match.
Pakistan Overall Campaign at T20 World Cup 2026
Despite ending on a winning note, Pakistan broader campaign in this tournament was disappointing. Across their five group matches, the side managed just one win this final fixture against the Netherlands losing the other four comfortably.
Pakistan results at the T20 World Cup 2026:
- 14 June — Lost to India by 64 runs
- 17 June — Lost to South Africa by 2 wickets
- 20 June — Lost to Bangladesh by 23 runs
- 23 June — Lost to Australia by 113 runs
- 27 June — Beat Netherlands by 37 runs
This pattern one win from five matches places Pakistan firmly among the tournament underperformers, despite possessing match winning individual talent. The early exit continues a recurring theme for the side in global T20 events, even though, in most previous editions, they at least managed more than a single win.
What This Win Means for Pakistan Women's Cricket
A single win at the end of a largely disappointing campaign doesn't erase the bigger structural questions facing Pakistan Women's cricket questions about batting depth, top order consistency, and the gap against top tier sides like India, Australia, and South Africa. The 113 run defeat to Australia earlier in the tournament was a particularly stark reminder of how far the gap remains against the world best teams.
That said, the Netherlands win does offer something to build on. Gull Feroza matured, anchoring innings and the bowling partnership between Fatima Sana and Ayesha Zafar are exactly the kind of individual performances a rebuilding side needs heading into the next cycle of fixtures. For Pakistan, the challenge now is translating isolated performances like this one into consistent results against higher ranked opposition.
For the Netherlands, despite the loss, qualifying for their maiden Women's T20 World Cup was already a significant achievement after navigating multiple qualifying tournaments even if a winless campaign means they'll need to go through the qualification process again for the next edition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who won the Pakistan vs Netherlands match at the T20 World Cup 2026?
Pakistan won by 37 runs, posting 126/6 before bowling out the Netherlands for 89.
Q2: Who was named Player of the Match?
Gull Feroza was named Player of the Match for her unbeaten 63 off 52 balls.
Q3: Who were the top bowlers for Pakistan?
Captain Fatima Sana took 3 wickets for 12 runs, and Ayesha Zafar also took 3 wickets, conceding 13 runs.
Q4: How many matches did Pakistan win in the group stage?
Pakistan won only 1 of their 5 group-stage matches this final fixture against the Netherlands.
Q5: Where was the match played?
The match was held at the Gloucestershire Cricket Ground (Bristol County Ground) in Bristol, United Kingdom.