Fatima Sana, batters put Pakistan 1-0 up against New Zealand

Pakistan 132 for 3 (Zulfiqar 41, Devine 2-23) beat New Zealand 127 for 6 (Green 43*, Sana 3-18) by seven wickets

Fatima Sana‘s three-for and combined effort from batters helped Pakistan win the first T20I against New Zealand in Dunedin. It was also Pakistan’s first-ever win against New Zealand in the format.

Having elected to bat first, New Zealand openers got off to a steady start but medium pacer Sana struck in the sixth over to remove Bernadine Bezuidenhout for 13. She went on to remove Kate Anderson in the eighth over and then pinned Suzie Bates in front in the tenth over to leave New Zealand at 59 for 3. She conceded just 18 runs off her four overs.

Sophie Devine and Maddy Green then cautiously started the repair job but Aaliya Riaz came back to remove the former for a 17-ball 11. Nida Dar then dismissed Georgia Plimmer for 4 in the 16th over.

Green and Rowe then put up New Zealand’s highest partnership, making 28 off 24 runs to take the total past 100. Green hit five boundaries during her stay and was unbeaten on 43, as New Zealand set Pakistan a target of 128.

In the chase, Pakistan openers Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar started slowly, putting up 30 runs in the powerplay. Sophie Devine broke the stand in the ninth over, removing Muneeba for 23, following which Zulfiqar and Dar built towards 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.

Source: ESPN Crickinfo

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