The New Zealand women led by skipper Sophie Devine are hosting Pakistan for a limited-overs series which included a three-match T20I series followed by a three-match ODI series. The visitors Pakistan clinched a historic, their maiden series win outside Asia and Ireland.
The home came out with a completely dominating performance in the first ODI sealing the game by a massive 131-run margin, after posting a mammoth total of 365/4 on the board courtesy of an impressive century from Suzie Bates (108 off 104 balls) and a triplet of half-centuries from Bernadine Bezuidenhout (86 off 86 balls), Amelia Kerr (83 off 69 balls), and skipper Sophie Devine (70 off 36 balls). Suzie Bates was awarded the Player of the Match for her match-winning performance with the bat.
The duo of Lea Tahuhu and Fran Jonas hold their nerve to guide the home side over the line in a tricky run chase as they seal a one-wicket victory in the 2nd ODI to seal the ODI series. Maddy Green was awarded the Player of the Match for her match-winning performance (83 off 96 balls) with the bat. New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine won the toss and opted to bat first in the 3rd ODI. The home side had to make a forced change as the wicket-keeper batter Bernadine Bezuidenhout was ruled out of the 3rd ODI courtesy of a broken finger. Jess Kerr replaced her in the playing 11. The visitors, Pakistan were playing the same team.
The New Zealand openers got off to a very cautious start, scoring under 3 runs an over before the wicket-keeper batter Isabella Gaze was found short of her crease courtesy of a direct hit from Natalia Pervaiz to provide the first breakthrough for Pakistan. Amelia Kerr joined Suzie Bates at the crease and the duo stitched a 22-run partnership for the second wicket before a tossed-up delivery from Nashra Sandhu found the outside edge of Suzie Bates and Muneeba Ali completed an easy catch to provide the second breakthrough for Pakistan.
Skipper Sophie Devine joined Amelia Kerr at the crease and the duo stitched a crucial 56-run partnership for the third wicket before the ball stayed low to sneak through skipper Sophie Devine’s hoick on the leg side and the ball crashed onto her stumps. Ghulam Fatima provided a massive breakthrough for Pakistan. Maddy Green joined Amelia Kerr at the crease and the duo stitched another crucial 70-run partnership for the fourth wicket before the ball sneaked through Amelia Kerr’s sweep shot to crash onto her stumps. Ghulam Fatima provided the fourth breakthrough for Pakistan. Amelia Kerr completed her 9th ODI half-century before getting dismissed.
Georgia Plimmer joined Maddy Green at the crease and the duo failed to stitch a substantial partnership as they lost the wicket of Georgia Plimmer. Umm-e-Hani trapped her on the pads to provide the 5th breakthrough for her side. Hannah Rowe joined Maddy Green at the crease and the duo stitched a 21-run partnership for the 6th wicket before Hannah Rowe was found short of her crease to provide the 6th breakthrough for Pakistan.
Jess Kerr joined Maddy Green at the crease and the duo stitched a crucial 40-run partnership for the 7th wicket before Jess Kerr gave the charge down the track to Nashra Sandhu but missed the ball completely and the wicket-keeper Najiha Alvi completed the formalities behind the stumps to provide the 7th breakthrough for Pakistan. The home side eventually ended with a total of 251/8 in their quota of overs. Amelia Kerr (77 off 87 balls), Maddy Green (65 off 69 balls), and skipper Sophie Devine (29 off 32 balls) were the top performers with the bat for New Zealand. Nashra Sandhu (2/59), Ghulam Fatima (2/59) and Umm-e-Hani (1/51) were the top performers with the ball for Pakistan.
Chasing a target of 252, the Pakistan openers got off to a poor start losing Muneeba Ali in the 6th over of the run chase. Hannah Rowe provided the first breakthrough for New Zealand. Bismah Mahroof joined Sidra Amin at the crease and the duo stitched a 26-run partnership for the second wicket before Sidra Amin flicked the ball straight to Maddy Green to provide the breakthrough for New Zealand. Lea Tahuhu provided the 2nd breakthrough for New Zealand.
Aliya Riaz joined Bismah Mahroof at the crease and the duo stitched a massive 101-run partnership for the third wicket before Aliya Riaz drove the ball straight to Jess Kerr and she completed an excellent return catch inches above the ground on her follow-through to provide the third breakthrough for New Zealand. Aliya Riaz fell 6-run short of her well-deserved half-century. Skipper Fatima Sana joined Bismah Mahroof at the crease and the duo stitched a 35-run partnership for the 4th wicket before Fran Jonas dismissed Bismah Mahroof to provide the 4th wicket for New Zealand.
Natalia Pervaiz joined skipper Fatima Sana at the crease and the duo stitched a 24-run partnership for the 5th wicket before skipper Sophie Devine dismissed the opposition skipper Fatima Sana to provide the big breakthrough for her side. Wicket-keeper batter Najiha Alvi joined Natalia Pervaiz at the crease and the duo stitched a 31-run partnership for the 6th wicket before Amelia Kerr picked up the wicket of Natalia Pervaiz to provide the 6th breakthrough for New Zealand.
The visitors were in a strong position to potentially seal the game, however, they suffered a mini collapse as they lost their next three wickets for just 16 runs and they were eventually denied the visitors Pakistan to get over the line as the game eventually ended in a tie. The game went into the super over. The duo of Aliya Riaz and skipper Fatima Sana smashed 11 runs in the super over. The home side New Zealand fell short of the 12-run target by 3 runs and eventually ended up on the losing side with one ball to spare as they lost a couple of wickets in the run chase.
A series to remember for the girls in green. #CricketTwitter #PAKvNZ | 📸:PCB pic.twitter.com/M99xQoLK9p
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) December 18, 2023
Bismah Mahroof (68 off 86 balls), Aliya Riaz (44 off 84 balls), and skipper Fatima Sana (36 off 33 balls) were the top performers with the bat for Pakistan. Amelia Kerr (2/54), Lea Tahuhu (2/30), and Fran Jonas (1/45) were the top performers with the ball for New Zealand. Bismah Mahrooh was awarded the Player of the Match for her match-winning performance (68 off 86 balls) with the bat playing a crucial role in helping Pakistan clinch their maiden ODI victory over New Zealand in New Zealand. Amelia Kerr was awarded the Player of the Series for her brilliant all-round performance (164 runs) with the bat and (5 wickets) with the ball throughout the series.
Watch Video: Winning Moment for Pakistan Women’s Cricket team in 3rd ODI against New Zealand:
The WINNING MOMENT for Pakistan Women's Team – beating NZ in NZ for the first time in ODIs. #CricketTwitter #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/zTRBR0xD3F
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) December 18, 2023