The New Zealand women's cricketers have continued their dominance of Pakistan, winning the second T20 in Sharjah by 39 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the four match series.
Sophie Devine top scored in Christchurch with 54. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
White Ferns opener Sophie Devine continued her rich run of form with the bat, belting five sixes as she made 70 off 44 balls to help the visitors reach 150-8 batting first.
Pakistan could manage only 111-7 in reply.
After a conservative start to the batting innings, Devine and captain Suzie Bates (52) burst into life after the opening six-over power-play, striking 15 boundaries between them in a dominant 116-run opening partnership.
Devine, awarded her third player of the match award in five games for her efforts, smashed 27 runs in a six-ball sequence at one stage, before she was caught at long-on.
That left Bates to take over the hitting with a big score seemingly on the cards.
To Pakistan's credit, they hung tough and were rewarded with six quick-wickets which halted the White Ferns momentum.
The New Zealand bowling attack was disciplined and applied plenty of run-rate pressure from the start.
Only one bowler conceded more than a run-a-ball, as Pakistan found themselves requiring an unlikely 90 runs from the final ten overs before eventually finishing 40 runs short of the target.
The teams will have a couple of days off before returning to the Sharjah Cricket Stadium for game three on Sunday night (7pm NZT).
