In a shocking display of fielding errors, Pakistan’s women’s cricket team dropped a total of 8 catches during their Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match against New Zealand, which severely hampered their chances of a successful run chase.
The match, held at Newlands Cricket Ground, saw Pakistan’s bowlers struggle to capitalize on key opportunities as the White Ferns capitalized on every missed chance. New Zealand’s top order was given several reprieves, with the fielders failing to hold onto relatively straightforward catches throughout the innings. The drops ranged from regulation catches in the outfield to more difficult chances at crucial moments, undermining Pakistan’s efforts to restrict New Zealand’s scoring.
By the time New Zealand finished their innings, they had posted an imposing total of 175/5 from 20 overs, a total that seemed well beyond Pakistan’s reach given the costly mistakes in the field.
“I can’t believe we dropped so many chances,” said Pakistan captain Nida Dar, who seemed visibly disappointed after the match. “We need to take responsibility for those mistakes. Fielding is a crucial part of the game, and today we were just not up to the task.”
New Zealand’s batters took full advantage of the drop catches, with players like Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr making the most of their second chances. These errors allowed New Zealand to build partnerships and accelerate in the final overs.
When Pakistan came to bat, they were left with the daunting task of chasing down 176 runs. However, their batting lineup could not recover from the early pressure. Despite a valiant effort from opener Muneeba Ali, the Pakistani side collapsed to 121 all out in 18.2 overs, giving New Zealand a comfortable 54-run victory.
This loss leaves Pakistan with little room for error in their upcoming fixtures, as they now face intense pressure to bounce back. The team will need to address their fielding issues if they hope to progress further in the tournament.
Match Summary:
New Zealand Women: 175/5 (20 overs)
Pakistan Women: 121 all out (18.2 overs)
New Zealand won by 54 runs
Pakistan’s next match is against India on October 17, 2024.
