Maroof fifty clinches seventh place for Pakistan

Bismah Maroof was the backbone of Pakistan's batting as they took the seventh-place play-off against Sri Lanka by 14 runs in the Women's World T20. Her 62 off 53 balls resuscitated a top-order collapse to present enough of a score for the bowlers to defend.

Pakistan were 17 for 2 when she arrived and lost her partner Nida Dar not long after. Sri Lanka's control was slowly coaxed out of their grasp by a a fourth-wicket partnership 75 off 67 between Maroof and the captain Sana Mir. A late flurry from Asmavia Iqbal, 16 off 5, hiked the total up to 122. Nilakshi de Silva was Sri Lanka's best bowler with a double-strike in the fifth over.

Anam Amin, the slow left-armer opened the bowling and had Sri Lanka in a tangle with two wickets in two overs. That slip turned into free-fall when Sania Khan's medium pace made short work of the middle order to leave the score at 37 for 5. Eshani Lokusuriyage resisted with 37 off 29 balls and shepherded to tail until the 18th over. Her fall complicated an equation of 30 off 12 even further and Sri Lanka ended short.

Ireland end their campaign in the Women's World T20 without a win as Bangladesh held on to ninth place with a 17-run victory in Sylhet. Panna Ghosh took 3 for 25 as the hosts rallied to defend a below par 105 to record their first win of the tournament.

The chase began in dismal fashion with opener Clare Shillington run-out off the second ball. That had a domino effect as the next three players departed for single-figures. Cecelia Joyce managed to stick around for 19 off 32, but became Ghosh's first victim. The tail couldn't muster much resolve as Ireland were bundled out for 89, with three balls left.

Bangladesh were only marginally better with the bat after they won the toss. Four of their batters could not progress to double-figures, but opener Sharmin Akhter was resolute at the top. However once she was dismissed for 35 off 46, the lower-order crumbled. Three wickets fell for two runs and then further from 88 for 6 to 99 for 7 in the final over. Lucy O'Reilly, the 14-year old medium pacer, claimed a career-best 3-15, but the collapse she set off did not end up hurting Bangladesh