NZ vs PAK: Riding on Suzie Bates’ century and scintillating knocks courtesy of Bernadine Bezuidenhout’s and Amelia Kerr’s knocks of 86 and 83 respectively, New Zealand posted a massive 365/4 in the first match. They further backed it up with a good bowling performance as once again Amelia Kerr’s three-fer and able support from the bowling department sealed a memorable win and a formidable 1-0 series lead at the Queenstown Events Centre, here on Tuesday.
Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl first on this track that had a lot to offer to the batters. Off to a glorious start, the White Ferns had the duo of Suzie Bates and Bernadine Bezuidenhout play their attacking game. Giving absolutely nothing away to the Pakistani bowlers, the openers got to 51 in the powerplay.
With consistent singles and periodic boundaries, the White Ferns blasted past 100 without much hassle. Bezuidenhout was instrumental and notched a crucial half-century in just 50 balls before the 20 overs mark and Bates was able to ring up her fifty in the later stages of the 22nd over.
Bernie Bezuidenhout brings up her maiden ODI half-century! Follow play LIVE in NZ on @TVNZ DUKE & @SENZ_Radio. Live scoring | https://t.co/llOn4eQqnG #NZvPAK #CricketNation #Cricket pic.twitter.com/yfjynhyB14
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) December 11, 2023
As the duo looked to accelerate and keep the scoreboard ticking, an unfortunate run out of Bates’ partner Bezuidenhout’s stellar knock of 86 came to an end and Pakistan was finally able to get a much-needed breakthrough. Amelia Kerr was the next batter in and wasted no time to get into the act and ensured that the momentum was well within control.
Even as the 39th over saw Suzie Bates dismissed for a well-played 100, the experienced Sophie Devine joined the crease and yet again had a field day for New Zealand.
💯! Suzie Bates brings up her 13th ODI hundred. Or as @TVNZ's @cmacca10 calls her "New Zealand's queen of runs!" 👑 Live scoring|https://t.co/llOn4eQqnG #NZvPAK #CricketNation #Cricket pic.twitter.com/s2JadVoGh3
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) December 12, 2023
Partnering with Amelia Kerr, Devine looked like her unstoppable and vintage self which was a delight to the fans and spectators alike, watching. It was the 47th over when she saw the chances of scoring those big boundaries and unleashed her beast mode and the victim was Fatima Sana. Securing 27 runs off that over, she never looked back bringing in her half-century in 29 balls and eventually ended up with 70 off 36 balls.
Sophie Devine! The skipper goes 6️⃣6️⃣6️⃣2️⃣6️⃣6️⃣6️⃣ 🔥 Follow play LIVE in NZ on @TVNZ DUKE & @SENZ_Radio. Live scoring | https://t.co/llOn4eQqnG #NZvPAK #CricketNation #Cricket pic.twitter.com/MKy3HZrS75
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) December 12, 2023
Amelia Kerr, too, was not silent at the other end as she plundered the bowlers en route with her knock of 83 coming off 69 but Nashra Sandhu dismissed her. With Fatima Sana having the last laugh as the skipper Devine was dismissed for 70, knocks of 4 and 1 from Maddy Green and Izzy Gaze ensured New Zealand had a mammoth 365 on the board.
The @WHITE_FERNS have set a big target for Pakistan! An opening partnership of 165 between Suzie Bates and Bernadine Bezuidenhout laying the groundwork.
Tune into SENZ for the run chase ➡️ https://t.co/lZMow2FlEy#NZvPAK | @SEN_Cricket pic.twitter.com/F5KJhSQ4vg
— SENZ (@SENZ_Radio) December 12, 2023
Pakistan, with all due credit to them had a brisk start as the openers Sidra Ameen and Muneeba Ali did not let things lie as is and bringing in their 50-run partnership at the ninth over mak, they seemed to be one a mission. With Ameen stroking her way to a fifty, New Zealand skipper Devine got the first breakthrough as she got Muneeba for a well-played 44.
Nida Dar’s injury meant Sadaf Shamas was playing in her place but her stay was not long-lived as she was dismissed by Fran Jonas for a lukewarm 10 off 26. After a slew of dismissals, Pakistan seemed to lose the plot as the runs and boundaries dried up and lost six wickets in a span of 41 balls which was not ideal.
Wicket! Fran Jonas strikes and Pakistan are 2 down halfway through their batting innings. Follow play LIVE in NZ on @TVNZ DUKE & @SENZ_Radio. Live scoring | https://t.co/llOn4eQqnG #NZvPAK #CricketNation #Cricket pic.twitter.com/VvvfLe3tEO
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) December 12, 2023
Ameen seemed to bat on a different surface and kept the hopes alive but her knock of 105, a brilliant 100 came to an end as she was run out and with 150 odd runs needed from the last six overs, a recovery seemed far from possible.
.@SidraAmin31 brings up her 4️⃣th ODI 💯!
It's been a brilliant knock by the opening batter 👏#NZWvPAKW | #BackOurGirls pic.twitter.com/MGCskPJm99
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 12, 2023
Eventually, they slumped to 234 all out in 49.5 overs and it was a complete team performance for the bowling department as Amelia Kerr scalped three wickets with Lea Tahuhu taking two and Jess Kerr, Fran Jonas, Hannah Rowe and Sophie Devine with one wicket each respectively.
A strong start to the Dulux ODI Series in Queenstown! ODI 2 is at Christchurch's Hagley Oval on Friday. Scorecard | https://t.co/89LGTrocPx #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/Lvg2mNbUmF
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) December 12, 2023
Suzie Bates was awarded ‘Player of the Match’ for her fabulous show with the bat and New Zealand would be pleased with the 131-run win and an auspicious start to the series.
Pakistan on the other hand would rue the absence of Diana Baig who was injured before the series started and their skipper Nida Dar who was injured in the course of play and could find herself unfit for the next game.
Great to have whānau supporting us today in Queenstown! 🤍 #NZvPAK #CricketNation #Cricket pic.twitter.com/w5kxLzBRr2
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) December 12, 2023
Brief Scores: New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st ODI
New Zealand- 365 for 4 in 50 overs (Suzie Bates 108, Brendaine Bezuidenhout 86, Amelia Kerr 83, Sophie Devine 70; Nashra Sandhu 1-52) beat Pakistan- 234 all out in 49.5 overs (Sidra Ameen 105, Muneeba Ali 44; Amelia Kerr 3-44, Lea Tahuhu 2-45) by 131 runs.
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