DUNEDIN
\nPakistan Women\u2019s team created history on Sunday, defeating New Zealand women by seven wickets in the first T20I at the University of Otago Oval in Dunedin.
\nThis marked the first win for Pakistan women\u2019s team over the New Zealand women \u2013 also known as White Ferns \u2013 in the T20I format. Chasing 128 to win, Pakistan\u2019s opening pair of Shawaal Zulfiqar and Muneeba Ali provided a decent 40-run start to the innings.
\nMuneeba scored 23 off 24 balls with four dashing boundaries and was the first batter to return to the pavilion. At that stage, captain Nida Dar promoted herself up in the order and knitted 51 runs for the second wicket with right-handed batter Shawwal.
\nThe 18-year-old Shawaal, playing her sixth T20I and first on New Zealand soil, scored her highest T20I score of 41 off 42 balls, smashing seven boundaries all around the ground with great confidence.
\nFollowing Shawaal\u2019s departure at the end of the 13th over with 91 runs on the board, Nida too was dismissed after a quick-fire 23 off 14 balls, including a four and a six.
\nWith back-to-back wickets falling, the experienced pair of Bismah Maroof and Aliya Riaz got together and guided the team to a seven-wicket win with 10 balls to spare. Aliya returned unbeaten on 25 off 12 balls. Her innings included two fours and a six, the latter of which she struck on the second ball of the 19th over to finish the match. Bismah was undefeated on 13 off 18 balls, hitting a four.
\nEarlier, after opting to bat first, the White Ferns were restricted to 127 for six courtesy of a fine bowling display by the touring side.
\nRight-arm fast Fatima Sana, who missed the Bangladesh tour due to injury, capitalized on the overcast conditions and bowled a spell of four overs, giving away only 18 runs and bagged three wickets. Nida, Diana Baig and Aliya took a wicket each.
\nFor New Zealand, Maddy Green was the top run-getter, scoring 43 not out off 28 balls, hitting five fours. Pakistan will now take on Whites Ferns in the second T20I on Tuesday, Dec 5 at the same venue. The match will begin at 1300 local time, while the third and final T20I of the series will be played in Queenstown on Saturday, Dec 9.
\nScores in brief:
\nPakistan women beat New Zealand women by seven wickets
\nNew Zealand 127-6, 20 overs (Maddy Green 43 not out, Suzie Bates 28; Fatima Sana 3-18)
\nPakistan 132-3, 18.2 overs (Shawaal Zulfiqar 41, Aliya Riaz 25 not out, Muneeba Ali 23, Nida Dar 23; Sophie Devine 2-23)
\nPlayer of the match \u2013 Fatima Sana (Pakistan)
\nSeries schedule:
\n3 Dec \u2013 1st T20I, Dunedin (Pakistan women beat New Zealand women by seven wickets)
\n5 Dec \u2013 2nd T20I, Dunedin (1pm local time)
\n9 Dec \u2013 3rd T20I, Queenstown (1pm local time)
\n12 Dec \u2013 1st ODI, Queenstown (11am local time) (ICC Women\u2019s Championship)
\n15 Dec \u2013 2nd ODI, Christchurch (2pm local time) (ICC Women\u2019s Championship)
\n18 Dec \u2013 3rd ODI, Christchurch (2pm local time) (ICC Women\u2019s Championship).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DUNEDIN Pakistan Women\u2019s team created history on Sunday, defeating New Zealand women by seven wickets in the first T20I at the University of Otago Oval in Dunedin. This marked the first win for Pakistan women\u2019s team over the New Zealand women \u2013 also known as White Ferns \u2013 in the T20I format. Chasing 128 to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":372138,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-372116","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n