White Ferns refreshed their mana with a win over Pakistan in the first ODI and the chaos of this win could flip the entire ODI series in favour of the hosts. Aotearoa batted first and whacked 365/4 with Suzie Bates leading the way (108 runs) and she was supported by 50+ knocks from Bernadine Bezuidenhout, Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine. The way these supporting knocks escalated in tempo is a masterpiece of batting strike-rates...

Bernadine Bezuidenhout: 86 runs @ 100sr
Amelia Kerr: 83 runs @ 120sr
Sophie Devine: 70 runs @ 194sr

One of the intriguing wrinkles of this game was how Pakistan scored 110 runs before losing their first wicket in the 19th over. Pakistan was eventually dismissed for 234 runs in the final over and six of the seven White Ferns bowlers used took at least a wicket, while just two of the seven bowlers conceded over 5rpo. Those bowling figures looked far worse in the opening stanza of Pakistan's batting innings but the kiwis found a way to wrap up the win.

The general vibe of Pakistan flipped from T20Is to ODIs. They were vibrant, chirpy and played with urgency in the T20Is which then became passive as they started the first ODI. Pakistan fielders were on their heels instead of fizzing to attack the ball, which along with defensive fields allowed Bates and Bezuidenhout to settle into their innings with singles and thus control.

Pakistan were already playing without seamer Diana Baig and then Nida Dar had to leave the field after getting a ball to her face. Dar was one of a few players to be hit in the head by a cricket ball in this game and Pakistan will be hoping she is all good to play in the next two ODIs, which will both be played in Christchurch.

This offers another ingredient to ponder as White Ferns are dominant in Queenstown. They will now be eager to show that their performances in the first ODI are not as sporadic as they may appear, against a team that could be weakened by absences. A big win in Queenstown has only amplified how fascinating this series is as we learn about who and what this White Ferns team really is.

Bates scored her first century since March 26, 2022. This was her second 50+ score in seven games this year and she has four other scores below 20. A-Kerr took 3 wickets as the best White Ferns bowler and this was her first haul of 3w since March 17, 2022. A-Kerr has not taken a wicket in four of her seven ODIs this year. Bezuidenhout grabbed her first 50+ score in 14 ODI innings.

Of the 12 Women's Championship games in which they have completed bowling innings, this was the third outing in which White Ferns have dismissed their opponents. White Ferns used six batters against Pakistan and all six scored at 100sr or better. Of these six batters, Devine is the only player with a strike-rate over 91 in the Women's Championship.

These stat nuggets are selected to suit a storyline that this performance from White Ferns is not the status-quo. This may be their best ODI performance in the Women's Championship (stretching back to September 2022) and the only other game in a similar zone of excellence was the second ODI in Sri Lanka where White Ferns scored 329/7 and dismissed the hosts for 213. That win came in an ODI series loss to add more clutter to the vista.

White Ferns either bounced back with aplomb and have found their old groove of bullying touring nations, especially those from Asia. Alternatively, this was a win in which everything went right for White Ferns and like these flashes in the last few years, White Ferns return to their ho-hum baseline. May the intrigue continue on Friday in Christchurch.

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Peace and love.