Pakistan have won the third ODI against the White Ferns at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval via a dramatic Super Over triumph.
Amelia Kerr’s 77 in New Zealand’s innings helped the hosts to 251-8 before Pakistan replied with 251-9 off their 50 overs, the tourists needing two off Lee Tahuhu’s last ball of the innings but managing only one.
In the Super Over, only the fourth in women’s ODI history, Pakistan hit 11 runs, with Aliya Riaz facing all six balls from Amelia Kerr - helped by an edged four off the first and a couple of New Zealand misfields.
In reply, skipper Sophie Devine hit a single off Sadia Iqbal’s first ball, with Kerr dismissed off the next when holing out to long off, the only deep fielder on the off side.
That brought Maddy Green to the crease and she did well to hit a single to put Devine back on strike. Needing 10 runs off three balls, Devine put the White Ferns back in control when hitting a huge six over midwicket.
Unfortunately for her and her side, she hit the next to the long on fielder which sparked huge celebrations among the Pakistanis, the precious victory theirs.
“I think if we’re honest our fielding really let us down in that Super Over,” Devine said afterwards.
New Zealand had already won the three-match series after victories in Queenstown and Christchurch.
Kerr was the top scorer after Devine won the toss and elected to bat.
Eventually out bowled around her legs by leg spinner Ghulam Fatima, she was aided by Green, who hit 65 not out off 69, and Devine, who struck 29 off 32.
Although the pitch was conducive to run scoring on a warm but breezy day, the Pakistan bowling and fielding put the Kiwis under pressure early.
They scored only 23 in the first 10-over power play, with Isabella Gaze the first to fall when run out for 9 when New Zealand were on 21 and Suzie Bates out next for 24 when spooning an easy catch to point.
Kerr and Devine put on 56, with the former inventive early on as the field proved hard to pierce, and later impressing with her timing. She hit five boundaries, her 50 coming in 61 balls.
Devine was out when attempting to up the ante – after hitting a four through the offside she was clean bowled trying to pull Fatima.
Green brought up her 50 off 62 balls – hitting only one boundary – but hit two more as she was helped by Jess Kerr, who smashed 19 off 15, including the only six of the innings down the ground, before she was stumped.
Pakistan, who won the T20 series 2-1, would have been relatively satisfied with their bowling and fielding effort in the final match of the series, although they had reached 250 in reply only once before in their history.
Sidra Ameen looked dangerous with the bat hitting Jess Kerr for 17 in one over, with Pakistan, like New Zealand, guilty of losing regular wickets.
Bismah Maroof, who top scored for Pakistan with 68, and Aliya Riaz put on 101 for the third wicket before Aliya was out caught and bowled by Jess Kerr for 44.
Devine brought herself on and after bowling two wides got the prize wicket of Fatima Sana caught behind for 36.
Pakistan needed 22 runs off the final three overs, with Lee Tahuhu dismissing Umm-e-Hani caught and bowled in the 48th over, Amelia Kerr running out Nashra Sandhu and then bowling Sadia Iqbal for a golden duck.
It appeared the advantage had turned back to New Zealand.
Pakistan needed 8 from the last over bowled by Tahuhu. They managed only seven before the late dramatics.
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