India wrap up 2016 berth with narrow win

India Women booked a place in the 2016 Women's World T20 with a narrow win over Pakistan Women in the qualification play-off in Sylhet. Six teams - the four semifinalists and the two winners of the play-off games - qualify directly for the next edition of the tournament, while the other teams go into a separate qualifying tournament.

Chasing 107, Pakistan lost wickets regularly, three of them to medium-pacer Soniya Dabir, but useful knocks from their No. 3 Nahida Khan and No. 9 Nida Dar had kept them in the hunt. At the start of the final over, Pakistan needed 17 to win with two wickets in hand and Nida at the crease on 19. Shubhlakshmi Sharma conceded a four to Batool Fatima second ball of the over, and a two and a leg-bye of the next two balls to leave Pakistan needing nine off the last two. Fatima, however, was run-out off the penultimate ball and Nida only managed a single off the last ball, leaving India winners by six runs.

Having chosen to bat, India's top three made decent starts but nobody kicked on to make a big score as the rest of the batting collapsed. Mithali Raj hung around to make 39 and was sixth out, off the penultimate ball of the innings, as India lost their way, going from 64 for 1 to 106 for 7. Medium-pacer Sania Khan was Pakistan's most successful bowler, with three wickets.