The White Ferns have suffered more unwanted history, falling to their first one-day international defeat to Pakistan on home soil in a 'Super Over' thriller at Christchurch.
After the two teams finished tied through their allotted 50 overs, the tourists continued to boost their international standing with a maiden extra-time victory, taming NZ masterblaster Sophie Devine at her own game.
While New Zealand ultimately won the three-match series 2-1, they will rue an opportunity to sweep a team that humbled them in the Twenty20 format earlier this month.
"Disappointing for us," reflected captain Devine. "If we're honest, our fielding let us down, particularly in the Super Over.
"I tend to back ourselves to get home in Super Overs, but it wasn't to be."
Devine won the toss and elected to bat first, with wicketkeeper Izzy Gaze promoted to open with veteran Suzie Bates. Gaze was the first to fall in the eight over, as the NZ women struggled to build momentum early.
When Bates exited in the 15th over, New Zealand had only 43 runs on the board, but Devine and Amelia Kerr put on 56 runs in 53 balls for the third wicket.
Devine was bowled by Ghulam Fatima, but Kerr and Maddy Green compiled 70 runs, before the former departed in the same fashion as her skipper for 77 runs.
Green anchored the remained of the innings, finishing on 65 from 69 balls and finding late support from Jess Kerr (19 from 15 balls, including a six).
Pakistan were ahead of the required run rate for much of their chase, with opener Sidra Ameen rattling off 24 runs off 22 balls early, and Bishmah Maroof and Aliya Riaz putting on 101 runs for the third wicket.
Needing eight runs to win from the final over, their cause was greatly aided, when Najiha Alvi tried to ramp a wide delivery from Lea Tahuhu, missed, but the ball beat Gaze for four byes. With a single off the final ball, the visitors tied the scores to force extra play.
Riaz and captain Fatima Sana walked out to face Amelia Kerr's spin, and got off to a dream start, when Riaz top-edged past Gaze for four off the first ball. Mishandling in the field probably cost New Zealand a couple of runs, as Pakistan managed 11 off their over.
Kerr sprinted to the stand to strap on her pads, but was out second ball, caught by Sana off Sadia Iqbal. Devine kept her side in the contest with a fourth-ball six, but ended the battle, when she was caught by Riaz, attempting the same shot.
"Pakistan played really well, we played well in patches," observed Devine. "It ebbed and flowed, but we're not consistent for long enough and you can't do that against any international side."
The White Ferns must now wait until March for their next challenge, when England visit for three T20s and three one-dayers.
New Zealand 251/8 (A Kerr 77, Green 65no, Devine 29; Sandhu 2/59, Fatima 2/59) Pakistan 251/9 (Maroof 68, Riaz 44, Sana 36; Tahuhu 2/30, A Kerr 2/54)
Match tied, Pakistan win Super Over, NZ win series 2-1
The White Ferns have suffered more unwanted history, falling to their first one-day international defeat to Pakistan on home soil in a 'Super Over' thriller at Christchurch.
After the two teams finished tied through their allotted 50 overs, the tourists continued to boost their international standing with a maiden extra-time victory, taming NZ masterblaster Sophie Devine at her own game.
While New Zealand ultimately won the three-match series 2-1, they will rue an opportunity to sweep a team that humbled them in the Twenty20 format earlier this month.
"Disappointing for us," reflected captain Devine. "If we're honest, our fielding let us down, particularly in the Super Over.
"I tend to back ourselves to get home in Super Overs, but it wasn't to be."
Devine won the toss and elected to bat first, with wicketkeeper Izzy Gaze promoted to open with veteran Suzie Bates. Gaze was the first to fall in the eight over, as the NZ women struggled to build momentum early.
When Bates exited in the 15th over, New Zealand had only 43 runs on the board, but Devine and Amelia Kerr put on 56 runs in 53 balls for the third wicket.
Devine was bowled by Ghulam Fatima, but Kerr and Maddy Green compiled 70 runs, before the former departed in the same fashion as her skipper for 77 runs.
Green anchored the remained of the innings, finishing on 65 from 69 balls and finding late support from Jess Kerr (19 from 15 balls, including a six).
Pakistan were ahead of the required run rate for much of their chase, with opener Sidra Ameen rattling off 24 runs off 22 balls early, and Bishmah Maroof and Aliya Riaz putting on 101 runs for the third wicket.
Needing eight runs to win from the final over, their cause was greatly aided, when Najiha Alvi tried to ramp a wide delivery from Lea Tahuhu, missed, but the ball beat Gaze for four byes. With a single off the final ball, the visitors tied the scores to force extra play.
Riaz and captain Fatima Sana walked out to face Amelia Kerr's spin, and got off to a dream start, when Riaz top-edged past Gaze for four off the first ball. Mishandling in the field probably cost New Zealand a couple of runs, as Pakistan managed 11 off their over.
Kerr sprinted to the stand to strap on her pads, but was out second ball, caught by Sana off Sadia Iqbal. Devine kept her side in the contest with a fourth-ball six, but ended the battle, when she was caught by Riaz, attempting the same shot.
"Pakistan played really well, we played well in patches," observed Devine. "It ebbed and flowed, but we're not consistent for long enough and you can't do that against any international side."
The White Ferns must now wait until March for their next challenge, when England visit for three T20s and three one-dayers.
New Zealand 251/8 (A Kerr 77, Green 65no, Devine 29; Sandhu 2/59, Fatima 2/59) Pakistan 251/9 (Maroof 68, Riaz 44, Sana 36; Tahuhu 2/30, A Kerr 2/54)
Match tied, Pakistan win Super Over, NZ win series 2-1
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