Pakistan women’s team sealed their first-ever victory over New Zealand, also known as White Ferns in the shortest format of the game, in the first T20I at the University of Otago Oval in Dunedin on Sunday.

The Nida Dar-led side defeating hosts by seven wickets, with match-winning performances from Fatima Sana and Shawaal Zulfiqar.

While chasing 128 to win, Pakistan’s opening pair of Shawaal and Muneeba Ali provided a decent 40-run start to the innings.

Muneeba was the first batter to return to the pavilion after making 23 off 24 deliveries. At that stage, Captain Nida Dar promoted herself up in the order and knitted a partnership of 51 runs for the second wicket with right-handed batter Shawaal.

18-year-old Shawaal, who was playing her sixth T20I and first on New Zealand soil, scored her highest T20I score of 41 off 42 balls. She smashed seven boundaries.

Nida too was dismissed after a quick-fire 23, following Shawaal’s departure at the end of the 13th over with 91 runs on the board.

With back-to-back wickets falling, the experienced pair of Bismah Maroof and Aliya Riaz got together and guided the team to a seven-wicket win with 10 balls to spare.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, the White Ferns were restricted to 127 for six courtesy of a fine bowling display by the touring side. Right-arm fast Fatima Sana, who missed the Bangladesh tour due to injury, capitalised on the overcast conditions and bagged three wickets. Nida, Diana Baig and Aliya took a wicket each.

For New Zealand, Maddy Green was the top run-getter, scoring 43 not out off 28 balls, hitting five fours.

Pakistan will now take on New Zealand in the second T20I on December 5 at the same venue. The match would begin at 1300 local time while the third and final T20I of the series will be played in Queenstown on December 9.