The WHITE FERNS put the disappointment of elimination in the group stage to one side as they convincingly beat Pakistan by 54 runs at the ICC Women's World T20 in Guyana.
It was New Zealand's first win in Group B, the WHITE FERNS too good with both bat and ball against a spin heavy Pakistan side. The win also made it eight wins in as many T20 internationals against their opposition.
Pakistan's chase for 145 to win began brightly.
Captain Javeria Khan and opening partner Ayesha Zafar cracked six boundaries off the second and third overs from Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr.
But once the wickets started to fall, Pakistan's resistance crumbled.
Javeria was clearly their best batsman, and when her attempted reverse sweep at offspinner Jess Watkin gave a catch to wicketkeeper Katey Martin, Pakistan tumbled from 57 for four to be all out for 90.
Watkin was the pick of the bowlers, grabbing three for nine off her four overs to win the player of the match award.
Player of the Match - Jess Watkin!
β WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) November 15, 2018
ππ½ ππ½ ππ½ #WT20 #WatchThis #CricketNation @worldt20 pic.twitter.com/RNP8gGhNJh
Legspinner Kerr took three for 21 while there were one wicket apiece for Lea Tahuhu, Leigh Kasperek and Hannah Rowe.
The WHITE FERNS start was solid, having been sent in to bat.
Openers Suzie Bates and Devine completed a record eighth opening stand of 50 or more in World T20 competition, but both had lives.
ππ½ to a solid start from Bates and Devine. Powerplay complete 39/0. #WT20 #WatchThis #CricketNation @worldt20 pic.twitter.com/tag3BfGlkg
β WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) November 15, 2018
Bates just made her ground in the first over on a scrambled single, and Devine survived a stumping chance on seven.
Bates, the world's No 1-ranked T20 batswoman, fell at 35, slamming a hard return catch to economical spinner Nida Dar.
Devine, having whipped one ball behind square for six, was out at 32, off 31 balls, to a terrific boundary catch by Nashra Sandhu.
Devine pulled the ball hard but Sandhu, tiptoeing on the square leg rope, held the chance and kept her feet just inside the boundary.
Captain Amy Satterthwaite, out of form in the tournament, scrapped hard for her runs and was dropped on 14. She slammed a drive back at little spinner Sandhu who spilled the one-handed chance above her head.
#3 and #4 at the crease as the WHITE FERNS bring up their π―
β WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) November 15, 2018
π 100/2 after 15.4#WT20 #WatchThis #CricketNation @worldt20 pic.twitter.com/RajgdkMezQ
At 26, however, she was stumped off Pakistan's quality spinner Sana Mir for 26, which signalled a batting slump.
New Zealand lost four wickets in the last two overs, however they also rattled on 24 runs to push past 140.
Until that point Pakistan were looking at restricting New Zealand to a total around the 130 mark.
Martin, who lived dangerously for a time, clubbed a six and a four to long on off consecutive balls to give a final push to the innings, getting 29 off 24 balls while Maddy Green got nine off three balls at the end to give the WHITE FERNS the momentum heading into their bowling effort.
New Zealand will play Ireland in their final group game on Sunday (NZT).
