Sarah Glenn spins England to Pakistan victory

The 20-year-old finishes with career-best figures as Heather Knight's side go within a win of the semi-finals in Australia

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England took a step closer to the T20 World Cup semi-finals after overwhelming Pakistan in Canberra.

Despite enduring top-order struggles once again, captain Heather Knight continued her imperious form with 62 from 47 balls as the 2009 winners put on 158 for 7 from their 20 overs.

The target always appeared beyond Pakistan and they were left in a spin by Sarah Glenn who finished with career-best figures of 3-15.

Aliya Riaz offered some resistance with a best T20I score of 41 but it wasn't enough as they were skittled for 116 to give Lisa Keightley's side their second straight win in the competition.

Anya Shrubsole claimed 3-25, which included her 100th T20I wicket, as England's 42-run victory marked arguably their most rounded display of the competition so far.

A win over West Indies in their final game on Sunday (March 2) will be enough to secure a place in the last four.

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Pakistan meanwhile must defeat South Africa - who have a 100 per cent record in the group phase - to keep alive their hopes of progressing.

Though it was another handsome win for the three-time runners-up, it was not without setbacks.

Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt both failed at the top of the order again, making just two and 16 respectively before being dismissed.

New ball pair Diana Baig and Aiman Anwer both struck in the opening exchanges, but once removed from the attack England went on the offensive as their middle order class showed.

After scores of 67, 78 and 108 in her last three innings at Manuka Oval, Knight registered a fine knock of 62, compiling partnerships worth 34 with Nat Sciver (36) and 57 with Fran Wilson (22).

Tammy Beaumont (6) came in at No.6 but lasted just four deliveries, though the 159 England set Pakistan would prove a bridge too far.

Anwer again impressed with 3-30 while Nida Dar took two wickets but was expensive, as she was dispatched for 43 which included six fours and the only maximum of the innings.

A huge victory and 💯 IT20 wickets for @Anya_shrubsole! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Scorecard: https://t.co/s0ThluroJU#WeAreEngland #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/fYWmj89cob

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) February 28, 2020

Bismah Maroof's side chased down 125 to beat West Indies on Wednesday but never looked likely to spring another surprise, particularly once Shrubsole and Katherine Brunt had reduced them to 35 for 2.

Javeria Khan (16) struck four boundaries but was brilliantly bowled by Glenn, whose top spinning deliveries proved too much to cope with.

Glenn later removed Iram Javed and Umaima Sohail to claim her best figures in T20Is, going for just one boundary in the process.

Riaz reached a personal landmark of her own, with a fortunate 41 coming off 33 balls which was ended emphatically by Shrubsole.

And when the Somerset-born seamer struck again from the final ball of her allocation - a caught and bowled to dismiss Baig - it would be her 100th scalp in the format's history.

Brunt's second rounded off the victory which leaves both team's fate in the rest of the competition very much in their own hands.