Elimination confirmed: Shorna, spinners end Pakistan’s T20 WC run

Bangladesh 123/6 beat Pakistan 100/8 by 23 runs at The Rose Bowl, Southampton Impact: Bangladesh move to 3rd in Group A with 4 points. Pakistan eliminated – 3 losses from 3 games, out with 2 matches left. Collapse: Reduced to 13/3 in 4.3 overs after Fatima Sana’s double-strike Recovery: Captain Nigar Sultana 36 off 38 held it together Finisher: Shorna Akter 39_ off 22, 5 fours, SR 177.27 – Player of the Match. Added 31 off 16 for 7th wicket with Rabeya Khan to push BAN past 120. Strong start: Openers Muneeba Ali + Gull Feroza put on 49Collapse: From 49/0 → 84/7, losing 8 for 35 in 10 overs Spin trio: Nahida Akter 3/18 – top wicket-taker Sanjida Akter Meghla 3 wickets – took 2 in one over to reduce PAK to 70/4Rabeya Khan supported the squeeze. Pakistan scored only 30 in last 8 overs. Bangladesh's spinners made a contest out of the match despite Pakistan needing a mere 124 to win. Their middle-overs stranglehold turned what looked to be certain defeat into a memorable 23-run victory. From 49 for 0 two balls into the eighth over, Pakistan lost 8 for 35 within the next ten overs. Nahida Akter and Sanjida Akter Meghla, whose inclusion was the sole change in Bangladesh's line-up from their defeat to Australia, bagged three wickets each during that phase. Earlier in the match, Bangladesh made a similar comeback with the bat with steady contributions from captain Nigar Sultana (36 off 38 balls) and Sobhana Mostary (22 off 19), and a blazing 22-ball 39 not out from Shorna Akter. Those knocks came after a brilliant opening burst from Pakistan captain Fatima Sana and Tasmia Rubab had left Bangladesh stuttering at 13 for 3 in the fifth over. Bangladesh eventually put up 123, and victory helped them leapfrog South Africa and move to No. 3 in Group 1, although South Africa have a game in hand. Pakistan, meanwhile, continued to languish at No. 5, with Netherlands, the T20 World Cup debutants, the only team below them. Bottom line: After slumping to 13/3, Shorna Akter’s blazing 39_ rescued Bangladesh to 123/6. Then Nahida, Sanjida and the spinners choked Pakistan from 49/0 to 100/8, knocking them out of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup with a 23-run win. While the first Bangladesh wicket provided an early opening for Pakistan, it must have also come as a relief for them as a chance was safely held on to rather than being shelled as had mostly been the case with them over this tournament. Nashra Sandhu, who took the catch to dismiss Dilara, was in action again when she caught Juairiya Ferdous off Rubab to leave Bangladesh reeling at 13 for 3. But once the openers were dismissed, none of the Pakistan batters took responsibility. They lost six wickets from overs eight to 16. Meghla ran through Pakistan's middle order with the wickets of Ayesha Zafar and Aliya Riaz in the 12th over, before removing Saira Jabeen for nought in her next. It seemed Pakistan had solely pinned hopes on their captain to deliver yet another heroic innings. When Sana holed out to long-on at the start of the 18th over, Bangladesh erupted in celebration.