Any time a sports is stream on Youtube, we need to celebrate that organisations common sense. Pakistan Cricket are broadcasting Pakistan vs Aotearoa on Youtube and such initiatives should never ever be viewed as some revolutionary thing, this should only be viewed as the norm and it baffles my silly little brain as to why more kiwi sporting organisations don't go down this route.

Sure, Sky TV might have these organisations wrapped around their pinky fingers but that just shows how limited kiwi sports organisations think. Get away from the greed of money and get your sport in front of eyeballs! You'll make money don't worry about that and you can chuck your sponsors all over the stream, ultimately though you should want to get your sport in front of as many viewers as possible.

We're still living in 2005 with no Plunket Shield highlights on Youtube, let alone any coverage of domestic women's cricket so expectations around NZC are zilch. I just want to make y'all aware of how crazy this is; players and fans deserve so much better in 2017.

Point being; chur to Pakistan Cricket for doing what should always be done.

Via this glorious Youtube stream, kiwis were graced with a first up for Aotearoa's Women's cricket team over Pakistan, in the United Arab Emirates (Pakistan Cricket got a live stream sussed from the UAE - in Aotearoa we barely get this stuff from Aotearoa!).

The only real performance of note was Sophie Devine's century at the top of the order and this helped Aotearoa reach 240/9 in their 50 overs. The bowlers then toiled away to dismiss Pakistan for 232 in the 49th over, with Holly Huddleston, Leigh Kasperek and Amelia Kerr taking 2 wickets each at less than 4rpo.

Sam Curtis, Anna Peterson and Hannah Rowe were the three from the touring squad to miss out on selection in the first ODI. Curtis is effectively a back up batting option and given the variety and ability in the White Ferns batting unit, there's all sorts of ways this batting line up could be shuffled if Curtis is included.

Peterson missed out on a spinning spot Leigh Kasperek and Amelia Kerr getting the nod, while Amy Satterthwaite chipped in with 6 overs as well and Rowe was unlucky to miss out given her fine work in the World Cup. Newton and Satterthwaite took a wicket each and conceded 6rpo, Lea Tahuhu was the only bowler to got wicket-less and she also conceded 6rpo.

Rachel Priest wasn't selected for this tour, meaning Aotearoa needed an opening partner for Suzie Bates. Devine got the nod and was glorious in her 103 off 119 balls, carrying Aotearoa through to the 45th over and considering that Bates (36), Satterthwaite (20), Maddy Green (22) and Kerr (30) were the only other scores of note, Devine's knock was rather crucial.

Green is a low key benefactor from the decision not to select Priest, thus promoting Devine as Green got Devine's middle order batting spot. Devine came into this came fresh off an impressive 117 (137.64sr) for South Australia in the Women's National Cricket League, with Devine playing two games batting at No.4 for the state that is obviously aligned with her Adelaide Strikers WBBL team.

Two 50-over centuries in two games is a vast improvement on Devine's Women's T20 Super League campaign for Yorkshire Diamonds where she scored 55 runs, averaging 11. Funnily enough, Priest - who Devine's replaced as the opener - led all run-scorers in the Super League. Happy days if Devine's back scoring runs and keen observers will be chuffed to know that Devine's fully fit to bowl, despite not bowling for the White Ferns in this game as she bowled in both of those games for South Australia, in two 50-over games for Warwickshire Women before that and in a few Super League games before that.

I'm most intrigued by the spinning duo of Kasperek and Kerr. I feel as though it's my duty to keep highlighting how fantastic Kasperek is as she doesn't get the headlines or attention that Kerr gets. They took even honours away from this game in my friendly battle for spin supremacy and only Huddleston's 2 wickets @ 3.20rpo was better than spin duo's figures.

Kerr has enjoyed a sneaky promotion up the batting line up as well, with her run-a-ball 30 justifying that. Aotearoa's last WC game had Kerr bating No.9 (she was listed at No.9 for her debut also) and she slid up to No.7 for this ODI. While there may not be too much funk in 45 runs from 14 games @ 15avg, Kerr is the owner of a 102.27sr and that's reasonably impressive, even for a batter who clearly likes to 'feel bat on ball'. Mind you, everything about Kerr's cricket is impressive.

This game marked the start of a fresh Women's Championship for Aotearoa and Pakistan. Aotearoa are 3rd right now, Pakistan 5th and they are the only teams yet to play three games; West Indies (1st), Australia (2nd), England (4th) and Sri Lanka (6th) have all completed their first round of Women's Championship series'. Game two is tomorrow.

Peace and love 27.

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