Sandhu's 6 for 7 seals Pakistan's semi-final spot

She became the first Pakistan bowler to bag a six-for in women's T20Is as Pakistan crushed Hong Kong by 72 runs to set up a semi-final date with Sri Lanka

Pakistan 143 for 8 (Zulfiqar 47, Zafar 26, Kaur 4-19) beat Hong Kong 71 (Chan 30, Sandhu 6-7) by 72 runs

Pakistan will play Sri Lanka in the Women's Asia Cup semi-final on Friday after they secured a thumping win over Hong Kong in the final Group A contest. They finished second in their group with a 72-run win set up by a record-breaking spell of 6 for 7 from Nashra Sandhu and a resolute 35-ball 47 from Shawaal Zulfiqar.

Pakistan scored 143 for 8 after electing to bat first for the third time in as many matches, with Ayesha Zafar and captain Fatima Sana making valuable contributions of 26 off 19 and run-a-ball 24, respectively, before an excellent display of bowling saw Hong Kong fold for 71 in 19 overs.

Zulfiqar lives up to expectations

Zulfiqar made a thumping comeback to the T20I side last month in Sri Lanka and it made Pakistan persist with her at the top of the order despite the return of experienced Gull Feroza, who slid down to one-down. She could not build on a start against India with the wickets tumbling from the other end and the pressure mounting. But the right-hander fought through on Monday, despite the dismissals of experienced batters around her in Muneeba Ali (6 off 7) and Feroza (3 off 4).

Despite batting on a challenging surface that played slow and gripped, Zulfiqar timed the ball well as she struck six boundaries. She hit a few sparkling cover drives and stitched a sparkling partnership of 47 off 34 with Zafar before the latter fell in the 10th over. No Pakistan batter, barring Zafar and Fatima, was able to emulate the 21-year-old in an innings which saw only four batters post in the double digits.

Zulfqar was eventually outsmarted by Joyleen Kaur as she smashed a flighted ball outside off right back to the bowler to be caught and bowled in the 12th over. Pakistan seemed well in control until she was at the crease, but could add only 51 runs in 8.4 overs after her dismissal.Joyleen Kaur picked up career-best 4 for 19•Getty Images

Joyleen brings joy to Hong Kong

Dubai has played slow throughout this women's Asia Cup and naturally the idea was to make the most of the surface by bowling slow. While all the Hong Kong bowlers followed it, none of them executed it as perfectly as Joyleen as she hung the ball outside the hitting arc of the Pakistan batters who were desperate to post a big total.

It resulted in Zafar handing a simple catch at point while trying to slash hard at a tossed-up delivery outside off and Zulfiqar mis-hit a smash down the ground. She continued with the plan and it brought her two more wickets in her last over as Sadaf Shamas holed out to long-on and Eyman Fatima played all around a lobbed off-break to be trapped in front.

Joyleen finished with career-best figures of 4 for 19, the first time she took four wickets in a T20I.

Pakistan's bowlers too good for Hong Kong

Hong Kong needed to overhaul the 144-run target inside 12.3 overs to beat Pakistan in the race to the semi-finals but it was always going to be an uphill task considering Pakistan's strong bowling. They may have been subpar with the bat or in the field this tournament, but their bowling has been rated highly.

Sana defeated the defences of Mariko Hill at the end of the first over and Sadia Iqbal started the second by trapping Natasha Miles in front with an arm ball. From there it was a struggle for Hong Kong. Kary Chan struck a few boundaries as she finished with the highest score (30 off 47) in the innings.

Nashra Sandhu makes history

The left-arm spinner is known for her immaculate line and length bowling and Hong Kong never stood a chance against her. Introduced into the attack after the powerplay, as is often the case with her, Sandhu returned incredible figures of six for seven, the first time a Pakistan bowler has bagged a six-for in a women's T20I.

Her loopy length ball, which turned away, had Yasmin Daswani in trouble. She then bowled Marina Lamplough and had Maryam Bibi caught across four balls in her next over. She took three wickets in five balls in her last over, the first two coming on consecutive balls. Each dismissal left her with a smile bigger than the last.