132/3 (18.2)
CR : 7.20
127/6 (20.0)
CR : 6.35
Pakistan Women won by 7 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Fatima Sana
3/18
18.2
6
J Kerr to A Riaz
SIX! What a way to finish the game. Length ball angling in, Riaz comes down the track and lofts it over the bowler's head as the ball goes away over long-on for the maximum to finish the game for Pakistan. History created in Dunedin as Pakistan beats New Zealand for the first time in T20IS. They take a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series.
PAKW won by 7 wickets
08.27 AM IST, 03.57 PM Local Time: Pakistan Women kick off the T20 series with a resounding win, showcasing an all-round performance that secures a 7-wicket victory against New Zealand Women. This triumph propels them to a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, setting a positive tone for the remainder of the contests.
Earlier, New Zealand Women's innings unfolded with a measured rhythm against a disciplined Pakistan Women's bowling attack. While Bernadine Bezuidenhout contributed 13 and Suzie Bates added 28, it was Maddy Green's unbeaten 43* off 28 balls that anchored the innings, propelling them to a total of 127/6 in 20 overs.
Pakistan Women displayed a stellar bowling effort, with
Fatima Sana emerging as the standout performer with figures of 3/18 in 4 overs.
Diana Baig, Nida Dar, and Aliyah Riaz chipped in with crucial breakthroughs.
In pursuit of a target of 128 runs, Pakistan Women commenced their innings with a solid start from Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar, posting 30 runs in the initial 6 overs without losing a wicket. The opening pair contributed 40 runs before Ali's departure at 23.
Nida Dar and Zulfiqar then exhibited a dynamic partnership, adding 51 runs in just 28 balls. Zulfiqar's impactful 41-run innings set the stage for a commanding chase. Following her departure, Nida Dar departed after scoring 23 in 14 balls.
Bismah Maroof and Aliya Riaz took charge, steering Pakistan Women to victory with an unbeaten 39-run partnership, reaching the target in 18.2 overs. Maroof remained unbeaten at 13, while Riaz played a quick, unbeaten cameo of 25 in 12 balls. Despite Sophie Devine's couple of wickets, Pakistan Women secured a triumphant score of 132/3 in 18.2 overs.
Stick around for the post-match presentation…
Player of the Match: Fatima Sana.
Fatima Sana (Player of the Match): "Thank you very much. Thanks To Allah. This wicket is good for the pacers. And I played well. I just stuck to strengths and bowled wicket to wicket. This is a historic moment for us and am happy to win the game for my side. Really excited to see and win against the White Ferns. Great effort. Happy with the girls."
Sophie Devine (New Zealand Women Captain): "Disappointing day for us. Credit to Pakistan as they played better than us according to conditions. The wicket played differently and Maddy Green showed how to bat on this pitch. Happy with the effort, but we have to adjust our lines and lengths to get better. Hope to bounce back on Tuesday."
Nida Dar (Pakistan Women Captain): "Very happy with the win. The girls were great from the get go and the bowlers set it up for us. I think we bowling first helped us a lot and we kept them down under 130 runs. So, we were happy bowling first. I think the way we aced the chase was great to see. Zulfiqar and Muneeba laid the platform. I came out to bat up the order and got some momentum and that really set the chase up for us. Definitely, the girls are excited and we were very much up for it to win the match and now will want to clinch the series on Tuesday. Thanks a lot."
That's it from the first game of T20 International between New Zealand Women and Pakistan Women. Stay tuned to our network for all other cricketing actions across the globe and across formats.
For now, this is Saipavan Janaki signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Ayan Chatterjee alongside scorer/analyst Dushyant Madhukar. Cheers!!