DUNEDIN: Pakistan women’s team achieved yet another milestone on Tuesday, defeating New Zealand women by ten runs in the second T20I at the University of Otago Oval in Dunedin.
With this victory, Pakistan women took an unassailable lead in the 3-match T20I series, having defeated New Zealand women, also known as White Ferns, in the first T20I at the same venue on Sunday by 7 wickets.
This marks only the second victory for the Pakistan women’s team over 3rd-ranked New Zealand. Also, they became the first Asian team to beat New Zealand in a T20I series.
After being asked to bat, Pakistan scored 137 for six in their allotted twenty overs, the highest score against New Zealand in this format. Muneeba Ali top-scored for the side with thirty-five off 28 balls, smashing six fours.
Player of the match, Aliya Riaz, smashed three boundaries and a six in her unbeaten knock of thirty-two off 22 balls to help her side post a respectable total. For the White Ferns, Molly Penfold and Fran Jonas bagged 2 wickets each.
Pakistan’s Bowling Against New Zealand
In turn, Pakistan bowlers kept it tight from the start, restricting the White Ferns from scoring runs. Nashra Sundhu, playing her 50th T20I match, bowled economically in the middle overs, conceding only twenty-two runs from four overs.
Pakistan captain Nida Dar became the joint-leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20Is alongside Australia’s Megan Schutt when she sent Maddy Green to the pavilion for eighteen off 23 balls, increasing her tally of scalps to 130 in the format.
The star in the bowling unit was once again Fatima Sana, who gave away twenty-two runs and bagged 3 wickets, including the prized scalps of captain Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates. Left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal grabbed 2 wickets for 29 runs in four overs.
Pakistan women’s team will depart for Queenstown on Wednesday morning, where they will take on the White Ferns in the third and final T20I of the series on Saturday, December 9.
