NZW vs PAKW 1st T20I: Fatima Sana, Shawaal Zulfiqar lead Pakistan women to historic win, Pakistan Women made history by defeating New Zealand Women on their home soil in the first T20I, Fatima Sana’s brilliant bowling and Shawwal Zulfiqar’s responsible batting playing a key role in Pakistan’s historic victory.
This is the Pakistan Women’s team’s first victory against New Zealand in 9 T20 International matches.
The Green Shirts took a 0-1 lead in the three-match series after New Zealand Women won the toss and elected to bat first at the loss of 6 wickets in the allotted 20 overs at the University Oval, Dunedin yesterday. 127 runs scored, Maddy Green played unbeaten innings of 43 runs, Suzy Betts was the second leading batsman with 28 runs, Fatima Sana bowled brilliantly and dismissed 3 players for 18 runs in her 4 overs, Diana Baig, Nida Dar, and Alia Riaz got one wicket each, in reply, Pakistan Women achieved the required target in 18.2 overs at the loss of 3 wickets.
Openers Shawal Zulfikar and Muniba Ali provided a good start of 40 runs, Muniba Ali was dismissed for 23 runs with the help of four fours. Shawwal Zulfikar played a brilliant innings of 41 runs which included 7 fours.
He added 51 runs in the second wicket partnership with captain Nida Dar. Nida Dar scored 23 runs with the help of a four and a six, Alia Riaz playing in her typical aggressive style scored 25 runs off 12 balls with the help of 2 fours and a six and she remained not out, Bisma Maruf scored a Scored unbeaten 13 runs with the help of fours, 39-run partnership was established between the two batsmen in the fourth wicket, Sophie Devine took two wickets from New Zealand Women, Fatima Sana was named player of the match for her brilliant bowling.
Pakistan will now take on the White Ferns in the second T20I at the same venue on Tuesday, December 5. The match will start at 01:00 local time while the third and final T20 of the series will be played in Queenstown on Saturday, December 9.
T20I Series Schedule
- 3 December – 1st T20I, Dunedin (Pakistan Women beat New Zealand Women by seven wickets)
- December 5 – 2nd T20I, Dunedin (1 pm local time)
- December 9 – 3rd T20I, Queenstown (1 pm local time)
- December 12 – 1st ODI, Queenstown (11 am local time) (ICC Women’s Championship)
- 15 December – 2nd ODI, Christchurch (2 pm local time) (ICC Women’s Championship)
- December 18 – 3rd ODI, Christchurch (2 pm local time) (ICC Women’s Championship)
