Analysis: Pakistan’s first T20I series win away from home since October 2018 against New Zealand

After their first-ever T20I win against New Zealand to begin the series, Pakistan improved even further in the second match in Dunedin, where Fatima Sana claimed her second successive three-wicket haul to help her team secure the series.

After their first-ever T20I win against New Zealand to begin the series, Pakistan improved even further in the second match in Dunedin, where Fatima Sana claimed her second successive three-wicket haul to help her team secure the series. 

Pakistan’s 10-run victory marked both their first series win outside of Asia and Ireland and their first T20I series win away from home since October 2018.

After going 3 for 18 in the opening T20I, Sana finished with 3 for 22. She took the wickets of Suzie Bates (again in the series), Sophie Devine, and Hannah Rowe, all of whom were bowled. 

The match was won by Sana’s wicket of Rowe, as he was removed for 33 from 24 balls when New Zealand required 12 off 3 balls. After that, Molly Penfold could only muster a dot and a single off the final two balls of the game.

In the thirteenth over, Rowe entered the field with New Zealand at 62 for 5, needing 76 off 45 balls to tie the series. When Georgia Plimmer was out for 28 in the 17th over, it was down to 50 off 23.

Big hits from Rowe and Lea Tahuhu came at the right moment to keep New Zealand in the match with 18 runs needed in the last over. But Sana returned for her final star act at the very end.

Pakistan got off to a great start, thanks to Muneeba Ali’s 28-ball 35 at the top of the order. However, they were dealt a blow when Penfold removed Nida Dar and Bismah Maroof in the space of three deliveries, leaving Pakistan at 86 for 4 after 13 overs.

After finishing with a respectable total, Aliya Riaz achieved her second consecutive unbeaten cameo. The other end’s batters managed just 10 runs off 21 in the last seven overs, so there wasn’t much help from them. 

Riaz struck three fours and a six in a 22-ball 32 to set New Zealand a target that was just out of reach.

BEST PERFORMANCES – BATTERS

Muneeba Ali PAK-W

35 runs (28) 6 fours 0 six

HM Rowe NZ-W

33 runs (24) 3 fours 0 six

BEST PERFORMANCES – BOWLERS

Fatima Sana PAK-W

O         4

M        0

R       22

W       3

ECO 5.5

FC Jonas NZ-W

O        4

M       0

R      21

W      2

ECO 5.25

PARTNERSHIPS

Pakistan Women

Aliya Riaz                 Fatima Sana

21 (12)        29 (20)        4 (8)

Bismah Maroof         Muneeba Ali

10 (14)        28 (26)       17 (12)

New Zealand Women

ML Green                    GE Plimmer

17 (22)          33 (40)       15 (18)

LMM Tahuhu               HM Rowe

13 (9)             37 (21)      19 (12)