Pakistan women team beat hosts NZ in World Cup warm-up game

Pakistan women team has kicked off their ICC Women World Cup campaign with a four-wicket victory over hosts New Zealand in a warm-up game.

Pakistan skipper Bismah Mahroof won the toss and elected to field first as they restricted New Zealand to 229 runs in 45 overs.

Nashra Sandhu picked up four wickets, Fatima Sana and Ghulam Fatima picked up two wickets each.

Chasing 230 against a strong Kiwi bowling attack, Pakistan lost early wickets and were struggling at 119-5. Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz put up a 99-run partnership for the sixth wicket in quick time guiding the team towards victory in the last over.

Needing close to seven an over in the final ten overs, Riaz and Nida Dar struck eight boundaries to finish the job, carrying on from the likes of Sidra Amin (34), Omaima Sohail (31) skipper Bismah Maroof (28).

Nida Dar scored a brilliant 54 and Aliya Riaz scored a match-winning unbeaten 62 of just 52 balls including eight boundaries.

Jess Kerr for New Zealand picked up two wickets as the New Zealand bowling attack failed to contain Nida and Aliya's brilliance.

The women's team will play their next warm-up game against Bangladesh on March 2 while the first game of the tournament will be played on March 4 against arch-rivals India.

It is worth mentioning that Pakistan has never reached the semi-finals of the ICC Women's World Cup and are currently on a losing streak of 14 defeats in the mega tournament.