ICC Women's CWC 2022 | NZ-W vs PAK-W | Suzie Bates, Hannah Rowe's magic take White Ferns over the line

Veteran New Zealand opener Suzie Bates' 12th ODI hundred and a career-best fifer from Hannah Rowe helped New Zealand register a consolation 71-run win in their final World Cup league match against Pakistan at Hagley Oval on Saturday (March 26).

Bates became the first New Zealand woman and fourth overall to surpass 5000 career runs in the format while scoring her fourth World Cup century. Katey Martin has also put up a cameo of unbeaten 30 to push White Ferns' total to a respectable 265/8. 

Having lost their openers in quick succession after a steady start, Pakistan fought back through an 82-run stand for the fourth wicket, but Rowe's devastating spell rattled the middle and lower-order of Pakistan and brought the Kiwis back in the game.

Bates held the New Zealand innings from one end, putting on three vital partnerships, and did the bulk of the scoring. She added 68 runs for the second wicket with Amelia Kerr before Nida Dar broke through by claiming two wickets in the space of three deliveries.

Bates stitched another 60-run partnership with Maddy Green, but Dar struck again at a crucial time to pick up her third. Bates then forged another stand with Brooke Halliday for 51 runs, during which she brought up her fourth World Cup hundred.

Meanwhile, a late collapse saw them struggling as New Zealand lost 4 for 21, including Bates. But Martin stepped up and guided New Zealand to a decent competitive total. 

While chasing, Muneeba Ali gave Pakistan a steady start and showed her skills with some pulls in her 45-ball 29. The openers added 39 in nine overs before Frances Mackay gave the first breakthrough. With the two openers dismissed in successive overs, and Omaima Sohail by the 20th, Pakistan lost their way in the chase. However, the captain Bismah Maroof and Dar added 82 runs together to keep Pakistan in the race for almost 15 overs.

While Maroof anchored the chase, Dar chose to attack and scored a 52-ball 50 - her 10th fifty in ODI. But just before she reached the feat, Rowe dismissed the skipper Maroof. Then, she struck again to dismiss Aliya Riaz and half-centurion Dar in the same over before claiming two more in the space of five deliveries in the 41st over to register her maiden fifer in ODI cricket.

However, when the 92 were required in the final nine overs, Nashra Sandhu and Anam Amin fought till the end to deny all-out.

Brief scores

New Zealand 265/8 in 50 overs (Suzie Bates 126; Nida Dar 3-39) beat Pakistan 194/9 in 50 overs (Nida Dar 50, Hannah Rowe 5-55) by 71 runs.