Image Credit- Getty
Pakistan defeated New Zealand in Dunedin in the maiden
Twenty20 International thanks to Fatima Sana’s three-for and the team effort of
the batters. In the format, it was also Pakistan’s first-ever victory over New
Zealand.
After deciding to bat first, the New Zealand openers
got off to a solid start. However, in the sixth over, medium pacer Sana struck,
forcing Bernadine Bezuidenhout to go for 13. Leaving New Zealand at 59 for 3,
she proceeded to remove Kate Anderson in the eighth over and then pinned Suzie
Bates in front in the tenth over. Throughout her four overs, she only gave up
18 runs.
After that, Maddy Green and Sophie Devine carefully
began the repair work, but Aaliya Riaz returned to remove the former for a
17-ball 11. The 16th over saw Georgia Plimmer removed for 4 by Nida Dar.
Then, to move the total past 100, Green and Rowe
produced the greatest partnership in New Zealand history, scoring 28 off just
24 runs. As New Zealand set Pakistan a target of 128 runs, Green was undefeated
on 43 and smashed five boundaries during her visit.
Pakistani openers Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar got
the chase off to a slow start, amassing 30 runs in the powerplay. In the ninth
over, Sophie Devine broke the tie by dismissing Muneeba for 23. Dar and
Zulfiqar then contributed to the total.
Zulfiqar departed for 41 and Dar for 23, leaving
Pakistan with 35 runs to get off 38 balls at that point. Riaz and Maroof came
together for the fourth-wicket stand of 39 off 28 balls and finished the job
with 10 balls remaining.