New Zealand vs Pakistan
Dubai, 6pm local time
Team New Zealand: Sophie Devine (captain), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Isabella Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu.
Pakistan team: Fatima Sana (captain), Muneeba Ali (wk), Aliya Riaz, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Nashra Sandhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan, Najiha Alvi.
Tournament form guide: New Zealand recovered from a heavy defeat against Australia and registered a crucial eight-wicket win against Sri Lanka to keep a strong hold on the semi-final. Pakistan started it by defeating Sri Lanka but ended up defeating India and then Australia.
Short stories: Thanks to Australia’s win over India, all New Zealand has to do is beat Pakistan to enter the semi-finals. Their confidence will be boosted by the in-form Georgia Plimmer and Amelia Kerr who is among the runs and wickets. Although the target of 116 they chased against Sri Lanka was a small one, it was a case of the batsmen bouncing back after being bowled out for 88 against Australia. They have the resources to go in with six bowling options or stick with Fran Jonas or bring back Jess Kerr.
Pakistan will be happy with the return of their regular captain Fatima Sana, who returned to the UAE after returning home after the death of her father. However, Diana Baig, one of the bowlers, has been ruled out due to a calf injury and Najiha Alvi, who played the last match, may have to open for Sana.
Player to watch: Rosemary Mair, with six wickets in three matches, is New Zealand’s second highest wicket-taker going into the match. He went wicketless against Sri Lanka but bowled 14 wickets and conceded only 4.25 overs. He has dismissed key batsmen like Alyssa Healy, Harmanpreet Kaur and has been used both as a new bowler and a first change bowler. Sana was sorely missed in the match between Pakistan and Australia and is important to their players even though they have an outside chance of entering the semi finals. Sana has scored 153 runs and has taken four wickets with the ball, apart from leading the team in the right way.
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