F.P. Report
AUCKLAND: After winning the T20 series, the Pakistani women cricketers lost the first one-day international against New Zealand by 131 runs after the visitors suffered injuries to a pair of experienced players in Queenstown on Tuesday.
The Pakistani side were in disarray as they lost key pacer Diana Baig to a finger injury during a practice session before the match and later skipper Nida Dar was ruled out for the remainder of the clash when she was struck in the face while bowling.
The loss of the key duo overshadowed an impressive performance from New Zealand, as veteran opener Suzie Bates scored her 13th ODI century to lead the home side to an easy 131-run triumph over Pakistan at John Davies Oval.
Bates scored 108 from 104 deliveries at the top of the Kiwis’ order and received ample support from Bernadine Bezuidenhout (86), Amelia Kerr (83) and Sophie Devine (70 from 36 balls) as the hosts registered the second-biggest total in a women’s ODI in New Zealand with 365/4.
Nida Dar was replaced in Pakistan’s XI by Sadaf Shamas and the visitors were never really in the hunt in reply as they were dismissed in the final over for 234 despite a brilliant century from opener Sidra Ameen.
While Nida Dar still has some chance of recovering in time to play in the final two matches of the series, Pakistan have already revealed Baig will miss the remainder of the series due to her injury.
In a press release, the PCB stated that after examining Nida’s condition, the team physio declared her unfit to play the rest of the match. Dar was consequently replaced by Sadaf Shamas, and Fatima Sana took over as captain in place of Dar.
In addition, right-arm fast bowler Diana Baig was ruled out of the ODI series before the match owing to a horizontal finger fracture acquired during a practice session. She will be unavailable for the rest of the series and is being actively monitored by PCB’s medical team.
Pakistan women’s cricket team is currently playing a three-match ODI series against New Zealand women, after clinching victory in the T20I series against the Kiwis.
