Sullivan, Kasperek Star with the Ball but not Enough for NZ XI

Pakistan: Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin, Muneeba Ali Siddiqi, Bismah Maroof, Nida Dar ©, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Natalia Parvaiz, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Omaima Sohail, Umm-e-Hani, Najha Alvi (WK), Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal, Waheeda Akhter, Ghulam Fatima

NZXI: Abby Gerken, Nensi Patel, Georgia Plimmer, Bella James, Izzy Gaze (WK), Olivia Gain, Bella Armstrong, Flora Devonshire, Leigh Kasperek ©, Rosemary Mair, Ocean Bartlett, Gabby Sullivan, Kayley Knight

The New Zealanders got off to a great start with Gabby Sullivan picking up Sidra Amin in the first over for a golden duck before bowling Sadaf Shamas back in the third over for 4.

Muneeba Siddiqi and Bismah Maroof were able to see Pakistan through the rest of the powerplay, adding a further 30 runs to the score before Siddiqi fell in the 11th over and then Maroof two overs later with Nensi Patel grabbing both wickets.

Gabby Sullivan celebrates the wicket of Sidra Amin. Photo Credit: NZC

When it looked like Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz were building a partnership for the Pakistan side, they were quickly interrupted by New Zealand XI captain Leigh Kasperek as she carried on the trend of taking two wickets in two overs removing Dar in the 19th and Riaz in the 21st overs.

With Pakistan sitting at 87/6 they were soon going to need to find a partnership if they had any chance of putting on a defendable total. The Kiwi bowlers were able to keep attacking and took regular wickets with Kasperek claiming the wicket of Natalia Parvaiz for 13 and Central Hinds spinner Flora Devonshire joined in on the action as she removed Shawaal Zulfiqar for 11.

Fatima Sana soon found herself walking back to the pavilion as another Central Hind spinner, Ocean Bartlett took the wicket. Pakistan lost their 10th wicket in the 31st over, as young Northern Districts pacer Kayley Knight picked up her only wicket of the day, Umm-e-Hani went for a duck.

With the fixture not having official List A status, Pakistan were allowed more than 10 wickets and used this in their favour as Omaima Sohail and Najiha Alvi were able to add a few runs for Pakistan before Bartlett brought the partnership to an end with the dismissal of Sohail for 24.

Alvi and opener Sidra Amin (who was batting for a second time) put on a match-defining partnership of 48 from just under 9 overs before Sullivan was introduced back into the attack and had her out for 38.

Sidra Amin plays a shot during her innings of 32*. Photo Credit: NZC

Shamas came to the crease once again and joined Amin, but Shamas only lasted 4 balls and gave Sullivan her fourth wicket of the day.

Diana Baig and Amin saw Pakistan through to the end of the innings, their side finishing on 238/13 from their 50 overs.

Sullivan was the pick of the New Zealand XI bowlers with 4 wickets whilst Kasperek got 3. Alvi was Pakistan’s top scorer with 38 runs and Amin finished on 32*.

Abby Gerken and Nensi Patel opened the innings for the New Zealand XI. They were able to get the Kiwis off to a good start bringing up a 50-run partnership in 57 balls with Gerken contributing 27 (35) and Patel 18 (22).

Abby Gerken plays a shot during her innings of 42. Photo Credit: NZC

Patel was the first one to be dismissed with Nashra Sundhu bowling her for 24 in the 17th over.

Sandhu then grabbed her second wicket of the innings 6 overs later with Abby Gerken being the victim for a well-made 42. The wicket of Gerken triggered the collapse of the New Zealand middle order.

Nida Dar was the main destroyer of the New Zealand middle order as she removed Isabella James (7), Izzy Gaze (0), Olivia Gain (1), and Devonshire (7). Waheeda Akhter also got the key wicket of Georgia Plimmer (17) who had come off a knock of 147 runs in the HBJ Shield on Saturday.

The Kiwis went from 83/2 to 108/7 in the space of 7 overs with Dar’s and Akhter’s wickets.

Nida Dar celebrates her 4th wicket of the innings. Photo Credit: NZC

Recently capped White Fern Bella Armstrong and Kasperek added a few more runs to the scoreboard before Aliya Riaz struck through with the wicket of Armstrong. Kasperek then went four runs later and Rosemary 2 runs after that to leave New Zealand at 134/10.

Sullivan and Bartlett were able to offer a bit of lower-order resistance with Bartlett adding a quickfire 23 from 28 and Sullivan 12 from 20. However, they didn't have enough time to be able to get the Kiwis to anything close to the target.

Kayley Knight only lasted six balls for two runs and Gaze (3*) and Devonshire (5*) saw off the rest of the innings as Pakistan claimed a 57-run victory.

Gerken was the top scorer with 42 runs and Patel got 24 runs. Dar took four wickets whilst Baig, Sundhu, and Riaz all got two wickets.