Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: New Zealand completed a 4-0 whitewash over Pakistan in the Twenty20I series, winning by seven wickets in their final match at Sharjah, United Arab Emirates on Tuesday. Their bowlers came to the fore in the final game, led by medium-pacers Hannah Rowe and Holly Huddleston, who strangled Pakistan with wickets in the middle overs. Sophie Devine then led New Zealand’s charge with the bat, smashing a 17-ball 41 to take the visitors home comfortably – with nine overs to spare. Pakistan on the other hand had crept to 89 for 8 in their 20 overs, with only Javeria Khan showing any resistance with the bat. She scored a 38-ball 36 and was the eighth batsman out in the 19th over. But the rest of Pakistan’s batting faltered; they had started off decently, but from 51 for 2 after 9.2 overs, Pakistan could add only 38 runs off the next 64 balls.

Devine smashed seven fours and a six in her 17-ball blitz, before being bowled in the fifth over. By then, New Zealand had already taken 56 runs off the target. Amy Satterthwaite then took over with five fours in her 31-ball knock of 35. She fell in the 10th over, with the team needing eight to win. Suzie Bates was out three balls later – both batsmen dismissed by Aiman Anwer – before Maddy Green (8 mot out) and Katey Martin (1 not out) sealed the deal. Devine collected the Player-of-the-Match and the Player-of-the-Series awards. She finished with a series tally of 158 runs in four T20Is.

Brief scores:

New Zealand 93 for 3 (Sophie Devine 41, Amy Satterthwaite 35, Aiman Anwer 2-19) beat Pakistan 89 for 8 (Javeria Khan 36, Hannah Rowe 3-22, Holly Huddleston 2-16) by seven wickets.

Published in Daily Times, November 15^th 2017.