A Suzie Bates century and late Sophie Devine boundary assault helped the White Ferns to a big 131-run victory over Pakistan in the opening match of the ODI series in Queenstown today.
After the relative runs famine in the T20 international series defeat to the tourists, this was a feast, New Zealand posting 365-4 after Pakistan won the toss and asked the White Ferns to bat in fine but blustery conditions at John Davies Oval.
New Zealand took full advantage of the excellent batting pitch, with opener Bernadine Bezuidenhout scoring 86 in as many balls – her highest ODI score and first half century – and Amelia Kerr 83 off 69 deliveries.
Pakistan’s bowling was in near tatters at the end, with Devine’s display of power hitting threatening to take the game away from them.
In the picturesque conditions next to Queenstown's international airport, the New Zealand skipper took flight, smashing six sixes in seven balls in the 47th and 48th overs, her half century coming off 29 balls.
"Sophie helped get us to a score that was probably above par and when Pakistan came in they put us under pressure so that was a really important innings from Soph there," said Bates afterwards when accepting her player of the match award.
Pakistan, who fully deserved their 2-1 T20 series victory played in Dunedin and latterly Queenstown, where New Zealand won their sole match, began their reply well, with openers Muneeba Ali and Sidra Ameen relatively untroubled.
They got to 110 before losing their first wicket – Muneeba for 44 – and while Sidra compiled a fine 105 off 117 balls before being run out, the run rate soon became overwhelming.
It became a procession at the end, with Pakistan losing their final six wickets for 46 runs, the spoils shared by the New Zealand bowlers, with Lea Tahuhu getting two in her seventh over.
Legspinner Amelia Kerr’s wrong ‘un to dismiss Nashra Sandhu for 1 was a late highlight. In the end, Kerr took three wickets, including the final one on the penultimate ball as Pakistan were skittled for 234.
In the first innings, Bezuidenhout led the way before she was run out after a mix-up with Bates with New Zealand on 165. Hitting a full-blooded drive down the ground, Bezuidenhout took off but was sent back by Bates and she was run out at the striker’s end.
That brought Kerr, a woman averaging more than 130 on this ground, to the pitch, and the 23-year-old set about piling on the misery for Pakistan, hitting the ball into gaps with ease, including over the keeper’s head with inventive ramp shots.
Bates celebrated her 13th ODI century soon after bringing up the 50 partnership with Kerr, going from 97 to 101 with a lap shot to the fine leg boundary.
Kerr brought up her 50 off 44 balls but needed treatment shortly after when hit in the back of the neck by an errant throw to the keeper’s end by an out-fielder.
Pakistan skipper Nida Dar was the next to receive assistance after the ball rebounded into her chin off her hands, a case of injury being added to insult because worse was to come once Devine got into gear.
She hit Fatima Sana for consecutive sixes over midwicket to finish the 47th over, then, once Kerr hit a single in the next, Devine hit four sixes off Omaima Sohail’s spin bowling.
Devine was eventually out on the penultimate ball of the innings.
It was the first time since 2018 that New Zealand have scored 300 at home and it was the White Ferns’ highest score in Queenstown.
The second ODI is in Christchurch on Friday.
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