by: Atika Mehboob TN Sport Pakistan:
The Pakistan Women’s team created history as they defeated the New Zealand team by seven wickets in the first T20 of the ongoing series. It was the very first time that the Girls in Green vanquished the White Ferns in this format.
The right-arm pacer, Fatima Sana, made a monumental comeback to the side after an injury, and she was one of the core reasons why her side started the series on a good note. She took 3 wickets for just 18 runs as the striking pacer dismissed Bernadine Bezuidenhout for 13. The medium-pacer also went on to dismiss Kate Anderson and Suzie Bates in the tenth over, leaving New Zealand at 59 for 3.
Besides Fatima, Aliya Riaz took an important wicket of the skipper Sophie Devine as she and Maddy Green were looking to retaliate. Nida Dar and Diana Baig also took one wicket each. Besides the spectacular bowling show, the amazing fielding helped Pakistan restrict the home side to the modest total of 127 in 20 overs.
Talking about the batting efforts, the young and up-and-coming star, Shawal Zulfiqar, was the highest-scorer for the side, scoring 41 runs off 42, clobbering 7 boundaries.
Muneeba Ali and Nida Dar chipped in with 23 runs, respectively. Aliya, who took an important wicket, also delivered the finishing six, taking her side home with 10 balls to spare.
It was an all-round effort from the side, but Fatima was adjudged the player of the match for her match-changing spell. The second game of the ongoing series will be played on 5th December at the University Oval.
