Win comes too late for White Ferns
Cricket The White Ferns have grabbed their first win of the World Twenty20, putting Pakistan in a spin in Guyana.
The 54-run victory was due in large part to their slow bowlers, particularly offspinner Jess Watkin who doubled her career international T20 wicket tally when taking 3-9 off her four overs at Guyana National Stadium yesterday.
She got the prized wicket of Pakistan skipper Javeria Khan caught behind on 36 off 23 balls just when she was really looking to open the shoulders up.
Legspinner Amelia Kerr took 3-21 off her four overs, doing most of her damage late on when cleaning up the tail to bowl Pakistan out for 90. Leigh Kasperek also produced four tight overs, taking 1-22.
That meant New Zealand easily defended their total of 144-6 from their 20 overs.
The top four batters all contributed, with openers Sophie Devine (32 off 31 balls) and Suzie Bates (35 off 31) setting a decent platform for Katey Martin (29 off 24) and captain Amy Satterthwaite (26 off 28).
There was a concern that none of them was able to kick on and set their side up with a big total, but it mattered little in the end given how well their spinners bowled.
But it all meant nothing after India had beaten Ireland earlier in the day.
That result, combined with the Ferns’ earlier losses in the tournament to India and Australia, saw them knocked out of the running to finish in the top two in their group, meaning they were only playing for pride in this win and their final pool match against Ireland tomorrow.