Pakistan 251 for 9 (Maroop 68, Riaz 44, Sana 36, Dahuhu 2-30) lost New Zealand 251 for 8 in an over eliminator (Amelia Kerr 77, Green 65*, Sandhu 2-59, Fatima 2-59)
Chasing 252, Pakistan looked like the favorites for large parts, but a late collapse left them needing eight runs to have just one wicket in hand in the last over.
Leah Tahuhu bowled it, and bowled well, but unfortunately gave away four pounds. And with two to win off the final ball, Najiha Alvi took the ball to deep backward square and Pakistan leveled the scores.
Amelia was out on the second ball of New Zealand’s Super Over innings, lofting Iqbal straight to long-off. Left-arm spinner Sophie Devine hit a six over midwicket, reducing the equation to four off the last two balls, but slipped caught at long-on on the next ball.
After Kerr’s 87-ball 77 was dismissed by Ghulam Fatima, New Zealand lost some quick wickets between Green (65* of 69) and Jess Kerr (19 off 15) within 40 runs.
Pakistan, who got off to a slow start in the chase, lost opener Muneefa Ali in the sixth over, trapped by Hannah Rowe’s lbw, with just 11 runs on the board.
But Chitra Amin upped the tempo and scored 20 off the next eight balls before Tahuhu hit 24 off 22 balls.
After Nida Dar’s shock in the first game, Fatima Sana, standing in as Pakistan’s captain, came in and played with gusto to ensure the visitors didn’t lose momentum to the wicket of Riaz.
Sana, supported by Natalia Pervaiz, continued to pick on the bowlers as Fran Jonas kept Maroof to 68 off 86 balls. With Pakistan still 54 runs behind New Zealand’s score, Sana took a divine catch for 36 off 33 balls.
Pervaiz and Alvi then put on 31 off 28 balls as Pakistan came close, but the Kerr sisters combined to take Pervaiz to 26 off 23 balls, leaving Pakistan still needing 23 runs.
Tahuhu caught Umm-e-Hani off his own bowling in the next over and Amelia threatened to take the game away when Nashra Sandhu was run-out off his bowling, prompting Iqbal for a golden duck in the last over.
But Alvi’s unbeaten 23 off 26 balls helped take Pakistan to the Super Over.