Christchurch: Pakistan women’s cricket team registered a historic victory over New Zealand in the Super Over after the third ODI initially ended in a dramatic tie at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, yesterday.

New Zealand won the three-match ODI series 2-1 after winning the first two games. This was Pakistan women’s first-ever ODI victory over the White Ferns in New Zealand. Pakistan set New Zealand to chase 12 runs in the super over and Sadia Iqbal successfully defended the total as she picked their two allocated wickets after giving eight runs. Earlier, New Zealand opted to bat after the coin flipped in their favour but could not get the desired start as they slipped to 43-2 inside 15 overs.

Amelia Kerr and captain Sophie Devine then raised a 56-run partnership for the third wicket, before Ghulam Fatima castled Devine to break the stand.

Devine scored 29 runs from 32 balls with the help of four boundaries. Kerr was then joined by Maddy Green and they built a solid partnership of 73 runs, completing their respective half-centuries in the process. Ghulam Fatima once again broke the partnership by dismissing Kerr at a total of 169. Kerr top-scored for New Zealand with an anchoring 77-run knock from 87 balls, laced with five boundaries. Green remained firm on her end, while wickets kept tumbling from the other end.

However, she was involved in a brief 40-run partnership with Jessica Kerr (19) to help push the team’s total to 251-8 in their allocated 50 overs. Green remained unbeaten at 65 from 69, with the help of three boundaries. Ghulam Fatima and Nashra Sandhu returned with figures of 2-59 each for Pakistan, while Umm-e-Hani also bagged one wicket. In response, the Pakistan women’s team lost their first two wickets with only 37 runs on the scoreboard.

However, Bismah Maroof and Aliya Riaz helped their side stabilize with a partnership of 101 runs for the third wicket before Jessica Kerr caught and bowled Riaz. Riaz scored a cautious 44 off 84, featuring four boundaries. Maroof was then joined by captain Fatima Sana and they added a quick 35 runs for the fourth wicket but Fran Jonas ended Maroof’s stay at a total of 173. Maroof top-scored for the Pakistan women’s team with 68 runs from 86 balls with the help of five boundaries.

Sana also departed soon after a 36-run knock from 33 balls, followed by Natalia Pervaiz’s cameo of 26 off 23. Najiha Alvi held on her end amid falling wickets and was required to score eight runs from the last over with only one wicket in hand.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 19 2023

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