As Aliya Riaz dived to her right to safely catch a skier in the deep that instance marked a historic moment as her side recorded their first-ever win over New Zealand in New Zealand. It took Pakistan 11 matches to achieve the feat.

This was only the second instance that Pakistan had defeated New Zealand in a One-Day International.Though New Zealand won the series 2-1 after they had went 2-0 up last week, Pakistan will fly back home with good memories as this victory came at the back of a T20I series win.

The match went down the wire and was decided in the super over as the two teams were locked on 251 when Pakistan’s run chase came to an end. Pakistan, by the virtue of being batting second in the match, had to set the total in the super over and managed 11 with all-rounder Riaz hitting the solitary boundary.

New Zealand lost first of the two wickets in their chase of 12 on the second ball as stand-in skipper Fatima Sana caught Amelia Kerr of Sadia Iqbal. Veteran Sophie Devine struck Iqbal for a six in the middle of the over to bring the equation down to four off two before miscuing the penultimate delivery.

Pakistan are now placed second in the ICC Women’s Championship points table with 16 points from 18 matches.Bismah Maroof scored her 20th ODI half-century as Pakistan managed 251 for nine. The former captain scored 86-ball 68, hitting five fours.

She knitted a 101-run partnership for the third wicket with Riaz (44, 84b, 4x4s) and 35-run partnership with Sana (36, 33b, 3x4s). Natalia Parvaiz (26, 23b, 1×4, 1×6) and unbeaten knock from wicketkeeper-batter Najiha Alvi (23 not out, 26b, 1×4) helped the side reach 251.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, New Zealand scored 251 for eight.The opening pair of Suzie Bates and Isabella Gaze were back in the pavilion in the 15th over with 43 runs on the board. Devine and Kerr got together and added 56 runs partnership for the third wicket.

Both Devine (29, 32b, 4x4s) and Kerr (77, 87b, 5x4s) were bowled by leg-spinner Ghulam Fatima, who returned two for 59. The leg-spinner has now 18 wickets in the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 from 10 outings.Nashra Sundhu, the left-arm spinner too bagged two wickets, giving away 59 overs and taking her tally of wickets to 19 from 13 matches.