Cricket: White Ferns dominate in seven-wicket win over Pakistan

Samantha Curtis of the White Ferns bats during the Women's ODI match against Pakistan. Photo / Getty Images

The New Zealand White Ferns have dominated Pakistan with both bat and ball today in Nelson as they look to continue their progress to qualify for the 2017 ICC Women's World Cup.

The White Ferns gathered two IWC points in their seven-wicket win at Saxton Oval to put themselves in third place on the World Cup qualification table - enough to secure direct entry to next year's tournament, which is set to be held in England and Wales.

22-year-old Ayesha Zafar shared a 46-run stand for the first wicket, before going on to score her maiden ODI half century, which included seven boundaries, although Nahida Khan gave Holly Huddleston the first of her four wickets of the day, offering up a catch to Sophie Devine at midwicket.

Zafar battled the aggression displayed by Lea Tahuhu, who was backed up superbly by Huddleston, who would go on to bag 4-20 off just 7.1 overs.

Apinner Amy Satterthwaite (2-34) plucked a return catch from Zafar to halt her in the 28th over, before putting herself on a hat-trick next ball by making short work of Bismah Maroof, dismissing her for a golden duck.

Khan managed to become a hat-trick victim, although the return of Tahuhu (2-29) and Huddleston resulted in wickets falling quickly for Pakistan.

The former struck twice in the space of four balls in the 31st over, with Javeria and Iram Javed falling victims to Tahuhu.

Pakistan's fall of 107/1 to 118/5 foreshadowed what was to come for the Middle Eastern nation, with the White Ferns wrapping up the innings with 11 balls in hand.

A target of 159 was shortened very quivkly, with White Ferns skipper Suzie Bates blasting five boundaries from Sadia Yousuf's first over.

Bates carried on to reach 50 runs off just 40 balls, with just 27 runs required to secure a New Zealand win by the time Bates bowled by Javed for 66.

Devine meanwhile managed 54 runs off 53 balls, collating six boundaries and hitting the first six of the match en route to her half century, which she reached in just 49 balls.

The White Ferns now lead the five-match series 4-0, and the IWC points game 2-0.

The win also results in Suzie Bates equalling Emily Drumm's overall New Zealand record for the most wins in White Ferns history, with 28 victories under her belt.

Bates has an opportunity to break the record in the final ODI at Saxton Oval this Saturday, followed by a T20 fixture at the same venure on Monday afternoon.