Bangladesh left Pakistan shell-shocked with a magnificent come-from-behind win during their Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 meeting in Southampton. It was Pakistan’s third defeat in as many games in the competition, and the result eliminated them from the tournament with two group-stage games remaining.

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.

Sultana wanted Bangladesh’s top order to make the most of the batting-friendly conditions in Southampton, but her counterpart Sana made sure that was not the case with a double-strike in her first over. Sana accounted for Dilara Akter off the second ball of the second over as the batter top-edged one to mid-on while going for a wild hack across the line.

Three balls later, Sana produced a gem. She got the ball to jag back into Sharmin Akter from good length, beat her inside edge, and thud her onto the pads right in front of the stumps. Bangladesh could not score off her first ten balls. Her opening burst (3-1-9-2) left a severe dent in Bangladesh’s innings as they managed only 23 for 3 in the first six overs.

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 the grab that must have provided the most respite to Pakistan’s fielding coach came right after the drinks interval when Aliya Riaz, who has been under the scanner for her hapless fielding, took Ritu Moni’s catch at long-on. While there were lapses in the ground fielding as a few regulation stops burst through the hands of the fielders, Pakistan overall looked a much improved fielding side from their defeats against India and South Africa.

When Sultana fell to Sadia Iqbal off a poor shot, Bangladesh were 92 for 6 two balls into the 18th over. But a late display of sensational shots from Shorna made sure the Bangladesh bowlers had a competitive total to work with. Shorna hit five boundaries and top-scored in the innings as Bangladesh smashed 43 runs off the last four overs. With the off-side packed, she often backed away to hit the ball over the fielders or scythe it through the gaps.

Pakistan were going smoothly at 49 for 0 in the eighth over before Gull Feroza cut Nahida’s half-tracker right into the hands of point. In Nahida’s next over, the tenth of the chase, Muneeba smashed what was another long hop to deep square leg. The two had laid the foundations astutely by seeing off Marufa Akter, who had taken two first-over wickets against Pakistan in the 2025 ODI World Cup match in Colombo.

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.

Scores:
Bangladesh Women 123 for 6 in 20 overs  (Nigar Sultana 36, Sobhana Mostary 22, Shorna Akter 39*; Sadia Iqbal 1-21,   Fatima Sana 2-18, Tasmia Rubab 1-40, Nashra Sandhu 1-14, Tuba Hassan 1-30) beat Pakistan Women 100 for 8 in 20 overs (Muneeba Ali 25, Gull Feroza 23, Fatima Sana 10; Nahida Akter 3-18, Sanjida Akter Meghla 3-21, Rabeya Khan 1-17, Ritu Moni 1-24) by 23 runs

[Cricinfo]

A meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Jay Shah, Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), was held on Friday (19) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat.

Vinicius Junior scored and assisted on one of Matheus Cunha’s two goals as five-time champion Brazil eliminated Haiti from the World Cup with a 3-0 victory.

Haiti, the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation that qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974, became the first team guaranteed not to reach the knockout round. Meanwhile, the Selecao got the decisive performance they needed on Friday.

Cunha, the Manchester United standout, got the start and showed with every surf-and-slide goal celebration why he should have been in the starting lineup in Brazil’s listless 1-1 draw against Morocco. Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti made the surprising decision in the opener to instead insert Cunha as a late substitute.

Cunha thrilled the Brazilian fans who made up the bulk of the 68,324 spectators at Philadelphia Stadium when he tapped in a rebound for his first career World Cup goal. He then sent a left-footed strike into the upper left corner for a 2-0 lead in the first half against the over matched Haitians.

Brazil forward Raphinha, who was subbed out with an injury in the first half, had an early goal disallowed on an offside call that only temporarily muted the yellow-clad Selecao fans in an otherwise festive atmosphere at the home of the two-time Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles — whose cheerleaders did their part to rally the crowd.

Haitian fans danced and sang “Grenadye Alaso” (“Grenadiers to the Attack”), the traditional battle cry of the national team. Brazilians chanted back, reminding them their country is the five-time World Cup champion and the home of the king of football: “A thousand goals, a thousand goals, a thousand goals, a thousand goals, a thousand goals! Only Pele, only Pele!”

Cunha added to the frivolity in Philadelphia, home to nearly 6,000 Brazilian immigrants, when he flashed his familiar surfing celebration.

Vinicius, whose 32nd-minute goal helped Brazil earn the tie against Morocco, helped Brazil get on the board when his shot was stopped by goalkeeper Johny Placide, and Cunha was there to slam home the rebound to make it 1-0. Cunha extended both arms as if trying to catch some tasty waves and was mobbed by his teammates.

Vinicius slid a pass through the defence to find Cunha, and he powered one high into the net that Placide never had a chance to stop to make it 2-0. Cunha slid on his stomach and mimicked a swimming motion that all but put Haiti in the drink — and validated the Brazilians’ fans’ decision not to tempt fate and dress the Rocky statue in team gear for bad luck.

Vinicius closed the half with a goal, and that was enough to keep Brazil — seeking its first World Cup title since 2002 — happy before it closes Group C play against Scotland on Wednesday in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Neymar was ruled out of Brazil’s second straight match because of a lingering calf injury.

[Aljazeera]