Pakistan women’s cricket team defeated New Zealand in the first T20I in a one-sided manner by seven wickets at the University of Otago Oval, Dunedin, on Sunday.
Shawal Zulfiqar with the bat (41 off 42) and Fatima Sana with the ball (3-18) were the Green Shirts’ best performers as the two guided their team to an important win.
Chasing the target of 128 runs, Pakistan played cautiously and didn’t lose wickets in the early overs as they knew the total they had to chase wasn’t that big.
Muneeba Ali was the first victim to New Zealand as she lost her wicket after scoring 23 off 24 with four boundaries.
After losing the first wicket, Shawal and skipper Nida Dar stayed on the crease and built a 51-run partnership before losing their wickets in quick successions.
Pakistan were 93-3 in 13.5 overs when hard-hitter Aliya Riaz and Bismah Maroof came to the crease and their unbeaten 39-run stand took the team over the line as Riaz finished the game with a maximum.
Batting first, the New Zealand batters were consistently troubled by Fatima, who removed both openers in the first eight overs.
The home side looked helpless against the Pakistani bowling attack and with never-ending struggle, could only score 127-6 in the allocated overs.
Maddy Green was the host’s top-scorer as the right-handed batter scored 43 off 28 with five boundaries but her valiant effort went in vain.
New Zealand Squad
Sophie Devine (c), Kate Anderson, Suzie Bates, Bernadine Bezuidenhout, Eden Carson (T20I only), Izzy Gaze (ODI & 1st T20I), Maddy Green, Fran Jonas, Melie Kerr, Jess Kerr, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu
Pakistan Squad
Nida Dar (captain), Aliya Riaz, Bismah Maroof, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Ghulam Fatima, Muneeba Ali (wk), Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Umm-e-Hani, and Waheeda Akhtar
Schedule of remaining matches:
Second T20I: December 5, University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
Third T20I: December 9, Sir John Davies Oval, Queenstown
First ODI: December 12, Sir John Davies Oval, Queenstown
Second ODI: December 15, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Third ODI: December 18, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
