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Nashra Sandhu’s six-wicket haul powers Pakistan into the semi-finals
Pakistan secured their place in the semi-finals of the Women’s Asia Cup with a 72-run victory over Hong Kong, China at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Monday. Nashra Sandhu bagged a six-wicket haul in what was Muneeba Ali’s 100th T20I appearance.
The Fatima Sana-led team came into the game second in Group A with two points from two matches, behind unbeaten India, while Hong Kong, China were fourth without a point. The result took Pakistan to four points and confirmed their place in the top two alongside India. esporist.com
Having won the toss, Pakistan opted to bat first. Muneeba opened alongside Gull Feroza, making her 100th T20I appearance. The left-handed batter had a poor outing, as she was dismissed for six by Iqra Sahar. Feroza also got out cheaply inside the powerplay.
Ayesha Zafar and Shawaal Zulfiqar then steadied Pakistan’s innings with a 47-run partnership. Shawaal was dismissed for 47, while Sadaf Shamas and Eyman Fatima also fell cheaply. Kary Chan later dismissed Tuba Hassan for 14 off 13 as Pakistan finished on 143/8 after 20 overs.
Hong Kong, China’s chase got off to a difficult start as Fatima bowled Mariko Hill for a duck. Sadia Iqbal also picked up a wicket and bowled a maiden over.
Kary Chan offered resistance with a 47-ball 30, but Ayesha Zafar dismissed her for the eighth wicket. Sandhu then ran through the lower order, taking six wickets for just seven runs, helping Pakistan bowl Hong Kong, China out for 71 in 19 overs and complete a 72-run victory.
Hong Kong, China captain Natasha Miles reflected on her team’s campaign, saying, “It’s been super. Always playing this standard of cricket is going to test you and it’s going to get you to learn more about your game, about yourselves. It’s been a really fun campaign, exciting, and hopefully we get to come and do this a few more times.”
Miles added, “We come in as underdogs… Can we put these teams to the test? Can we cause an upset? And can we enjoy ourselves while doing it? That’s the most important thing.”
The post Nashra Sandhu’s six-wicket haul powers Pakistan into the semi-finals appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.
ACC Women’s Asia Cup 2026: Pakistan’s Nashra Sandhu scripts history as her exceptional spell leads women in green to semi-finals
Pakistan’s left-arm off-spinner Nashra Sandhu wrote history as she produced the best bowling figures by a Pakistan women’s bowler in the shortest format during her side’s victory over Hong Kong by 72 runs in the nation’s last ACC Women’s Asia Cup group match.
That 72-run win helped Pakistan book their spot in the semi-finals of the competition. The standout performer of the team was Nashra Sandhu, who finished with exceptional figures of 6/7 from four overs. Her spell tore through the Hong Kong batting line-up at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Sandhu’s spell was the main difference between the two teams.
While defending a target of 144, Pakistan needed early wickets to stay alive in the match and Nashra Sandhu’s spell proved to be the point of difference. Hong Kong struggled to deal with her accuracy and variation, losing wickets regularly before being bowled out for just 71 in the 19th over.
The six-wicket haul also gave Sandhu a place in Pakistan cricket history. She became the first Pakistani bowler to take six wickets in a Women’s T20I. Her figures were also the best by a Pakistan women’s bowler in the format, going past Omaima Sohail’s previous record of 5/13 against Sri Lanka in 2022.
Sandhu was named Player of the Match for her performance. Her effort also came at an important time for Pakistan, who needed a strong response after their heavy defeat against India earlier in the tournament.
Nashra Sandhu gets her 5th wicket, giving just 7 runs so far in her spell
pic.twitter.com/ix6sSaij7i
— PctMedia (@PctMediaa) September 7, 2026
Pakistan had 143/8 on the board after being asked to bat first. Shawaal Zulfiqar played the key innings, scoring 47 from 35 balls with seven fours. Ayesha Zafar added 26 from 19 balls, while captain Fatima Sana finished unbeaten on 24.
The total was not a huge one but Pakistan’s bowlers made sure it was enough. Sandhu did most of the damage, while the rest of the attack kept the pressure on Hong Kong. Kary Chan was the stand out performer, scoring 30 but there was little support at the other end.
The 72-run win was Pakistan’s second victory in three Group A matches. They finished second in the group with four points, behind India and secured their place in the last four.
Pakistan will now face continental rivals Sri Lanka in the second semi-final, which is to be played on Friday, September 11.
Sri Lanka had already secured their semi-final place before Pakistan’s win. Harmanpreet Kaur’s India are the third semi-finalist and they will await the winner of Bangladesh vs UAE to determine their opponents for the first last four match on Thursday, September 10.
Abhishek vs Gill: When Childhood Friends Found Themselves on Opposite Sides
For years, the cricketing world has watched Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill do everything together, from their days at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) and the Under-19 side, to sharing dressing rooms and eventually opening together for India. The two have grown up alongside each other. Their friendship has become one of the most endearing duos in Indian cricket, built on years of affection, trust, familiarity, competition and banter.
On Monday, September 7, at the Sher-E-Punjab T20 tournament, friendship had to take a back seat.
Abhishek and Gill found themselves on opposite sides of the contest, with Abhishek leading the Amritsar Soormas and Shubman returning to captain the Fazilka Falcons.
The anticipation and excitement around the match had been building for days. There were posts, comments and reels all across social media. That fascination had little to do with the points table and everything to do with the two men at the centre of it: two of Punjab cricket’s most celebrated products and two of Indian cricket’s closest friends, who finally found themselves on opposite sides of the field.
While the Soormas and Falcons had already met once earlier in the competition, there was something missing. Gill was not available for that match, meaning the Sher-E-Punjab audience had been denied the match-up it really wanted to see. However, that changed today.
Abhishek won the toss and opted to bowl first. His reasoning was that Shubman was eager to bat. Abhishek was happy to oblige and chose to bowl instead.
However, once the game began, there was no room for favours.
Gill, as the team captain, produced a typically authoritative innings, racing to 67 off just 35 balls. His score included three sixes and eight fours, while his strike rate of 191.43 was the highest among the Falcons’ batters. Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for.
Abhishek had the ball in his hand, Gill was at the crease. This time, Abhishek won.
Gill was outfoxed by Abhishek, with Naman Dhir completing the catch to bring an end to the Fazilka captain’s explosive 67.
During the Soormas’ innings, Abhishek was batting at a breathtaking strike rate of 326.67, the highest in the Soormas’ batting unit, as he smashed his way to 49 off just 15 balls — one run short of a half-century.
Then Garv Kumar eventually dismissed him, and it was Gill who completed the catch.
Even in the Indian Premier League (IPL), when Abhishek’s Sunrisers Hyderabad take on Gill’s Gujarat Titans, their banter, reactions and off-field friendship regularly become a talking point among fans. The Sher-E-Punjab T20 simply brought that dynamic closer to home.
During the post-match comments, Gill was asked: What is it like to face Abhishek as an opponent after having played alongside him since the Under-14 days, through the IPL and for India as well?
His answer was simple: “It’s fun whenever we play together. When he comes to bowl and I’m in the opposition team, it’s very fun and there’s a lot of banter.”
Abhishek, though, put it even more simply.
“This is how it’s been since our childhood. Whenever we both come onto the ground, together or as opponents, we want to win,” he said. “That is how our mindset has always been since childhood.”
In the end, the scoreboard belonged to Abhishek and the Soormas, who sealed a four-wicket victory. But for those watching, it was never just about who won and who lost. It was about two boys who have grown up together in Punjab cricket, shared dressing rooms, and now find themselves at the very top of the game, occasionally having to stand on opposite sides.
Sometimes the best friends have to try to beat each other, and today they did exactly that.
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Can Glasgow Gold Turn Into Asian Games Glory For Indian Boxers?
With the curtains barely down on Glasgow, attention turns to a bigger stage.
Indian boxing has long been a medal mainstay at the Asian Games, with 61 medals making it the sport’s fourth-biggest contributor to India’s overall tally, behind athletics, shooting and wrestling.
The Asian Games will be a different test, with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan leading a strong Central Asian challenge alongside China, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Mongolia and Chinese Taipei.
Women’s Squad
Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg): An Asian Games debutant, Sakshi enters Japan as one of India’s leading medal prospects after defeating 48kg world champion Minakshi Hooda in the 51kg trials and edging out Nikhat Zareen.
Preeti Pawar (54kg): Commonwealth gold medallist and a 2023 Asian Games bronze medallist.
Priya Ghanghas (60kg): Commonwealth gold medallist and Asian Games debutant. Glasgow provided the 60kg boxer with a major confidence boost as she steps onto the continental stage for the first time.
Parveen Hooda (65kg): A 2023 Asian Games bronze medallist at 57kg, she arrives after a narrow 3-2 quarter-final defeat at the Commonwealth Games. Her previous Asian Games medal and experience of securing an Olympic quota for Paris 2024 make her a genuine dark-horse contender at 65kg.
Lovlina Borgohain (75kg): The squad’s most decorated boxer, with an Olympic bronze, a world title and a 2023 Asian Games silver to her name. She added another silver in Glasgow, losing 4-1 to Australia’s Emma-Sue Greentree, and will be among India’s strongest medal hopes in Aichi-Nagoya.
Men’s Squad
Jadumani Singh Mandengbam (55kg): Commonwealth silver medallist, losing 5-0 to Australia’s Jye Dixon in the final. The Asian Games debutant will look to turn that Glasgow run into a first continental medal.
Sachin Siwach (60kg): Commonwealth gold medallist and one of India’s leading men’s prospects.
Sumit Kundu (70kg): Exited the Commonwealth Games in the round of 16 via split decision. An Asian Games debutant, Kundu will be looking for a deeper run in Japan after an early Glasgow exit.
Ankush Panghal (80kg): Commonwealth gold medallist and another of India’s strongest men’s medal prospects. His Glasgow title gives the Asian Games debutant plenty of momentum heading into Aichi-Nagoya.
Kapil Pokhariya (90kg): Reached the Commonwealth quarter-finals before losing to Scotland’s Robert McNulty. The Asian Games debutant now gets another opportunity to make an impact on the continental stage.
Narender Berwal (+90kg): Commonwealth silver medallist and India’s lone male boxing medallist at Hangzhou 2023, where he won bronze in the +92kg category. His combination of recent form and Asian Games experience makes him one of India’s key medal prospects.
The Hangzhou Benchmark
At the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, India’s 13-member boxing contingent returned with five medals: one silver and four bronze.
Lovlina won silver in the women’s 75kg category, while Nikhat (50kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Parveen Hooda (57kg) and Narender Berwal (+92kg) claimed bronze.
That five-medal haul is the mark this squad will now look to better.
Potential Medal Contenders
Strongest gold contenders: Sachin Siwach, Ankush Panghal, Sakshi Chaudhary, Priya Ghanghas and Preeti Pawar all arrive as Commonwealth champions. Preeti has the added advantage of an Asian Games bronze from 2023, giving her both recent form and continental experience.
Ones to watch:
Jadumani Singh and Narender Berwal both left Glasgow with silver and will be looking to go one better.
Berwal, in particular, brings valuable Asian Games experience after his bronze in Hangzhou. Sumit and Kapil will be aiming to bounce back from their Commonwealth exits, while Parveen remains a potential dark horse given her previous Asian Games medal and international pedigree.
The challenge now is to carry that Glasgow momentum onto the Asian stage and better the five-medal haul from Hangzhou 2023.
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