Sport

White Ferns lose in Super Over

21:39 pm on 18 December 2023

Maddy Green and Amelia Kerr of the White Ferns Photo: John Davidson/Photosport

The White Ferns had already won the ODI series against Pakistan before they took the field in Christchurch on Monday for their last international game until March.

The game turned out to be anything but a boring dead rubber.

Having won game one comfortably and game two by the narrowest of margins New Zealand were aiming for a series clean sweep to make up for the shock loss of the T20 series against the same opposition - but it wasn't to be.

Set 252 for victory, Pakistan came within a whisker of a win on the final ball of the innings but could only score a single to tie the match.

The drawn result sent the match to just the fourth ODI women's Super Over.

Batting first in the Super Over Pakistan scored 11 runs off the over bowled by Amelia Kerr. In reply New Zealand's nominated batters Kerr, Sophie Devine and Maddy Green could only make 8 runs before losing two wickets and handing Pakistan their first win of the series.

Earlier after winning the toss and opting to bat the White Ferns struggled to get going at Hagley Oval.

The run rate remained below three until the 18th over when Kerr and Devine kickstarted the innings.

New Zealand had lost both openers by the 15th over as number three batter Kerr settled in before getting bowled for 77.

Devine's quick-fire 29 came in a 56-run partnership with Kerr before Green joined Kerr and kept the momentum going.

Green had top-scored for the White Ferns in Friday's win in the second ODI and her unbeaten 65 on Monday moved the hosts closer to a competitive total as she lost batting partners cheaply at the other end.

Nashra Sundhu and Ghulam Fatima with the identical bowling figures of 2-59 off their 10 overs were Pakistan's best with the ball.

In reply, Pakistan lost their opening batters early before Bismah Maroof (68) and Aliya Riaz (44) combined for a 101-run third wicket partnership that set the visitors on track for victory.

Despite losing three wickets in six balls Pakistan's tailenders did enough to make sure their side didn't lose and got another chance for victory in the Super Over.

Lea Tahuhu was the most economical of the White Ferns bowlers taking 2-30 off nine overs.

The White Ferns now return to domestic cricket with their respective Major Associations before reconvening ahead of England's tour of New Zealand in March.