New Zealand openers Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer got off to a solid start, scoring 41 runs without losing a wicket during the powerplay. However, the middle order faced challenges, with low contributions from Amelia Kerr and captain Sophie Devine. Nashra Sandhu stood out with the ball, taking three crucial wickets and helping to limit the White Ferns to 110 runs for the loss of six wickets. Despite her efforts, Pakistan’s fielding left much to be desired, highlighted by the shocking moments when they dropped eight catches.
The first missed opportunity came in the fifth over when Muneeba Ali couldn’t grab a tough catch that would have sent Suzie Bates back to the pavilion. Just one over later, Nashra Sandhu missed a much easier chance at midwicket, failing to hold onto a catch after Bates charged down the pitch. Despite the early setbacks, the first wicket finally came when Kerr skied a ball off Sandhu, and Sana, after fumbling it initially, managed to secure the catch on her second attempt.
In the seventh over, Omaima Sohail added to the series of drops, as she couldn’t hold onto a return catch from Amelia Kerr, despite the ball coming straight at her. After a quiet spell in the middle of the innings, Sidra Amin gave Sophie Devine another lease on life by dropping a simple catch at long-off. This was followed by a chaotic 17th over that featured two missed runout opportunities, as well as Sohail failing to take a deep catch off Brooke Halliday.
The drama reached its peak in the final over, with New Zealand sitting at 102-5. Sana dropped a straightforward catch from Maddy Green on the first delivery, only to repeat the error two balls later. A third chance also went begging later in the over, giving Green yet another life. However, on the final ball of the innings, Sana finally managed to hold onto a catch in the deep, dismissing Green and ending the sequence of dropped chances.
As the disastrous fielding unfolded, the Twitterverse was filled with facepalms and disbelief, left wondering what had gone wrong with Pakistan’s fielding performance.
Record breaking drops
Truly, catches win matches! 😅
Which missed chance of Team Pakistan do you believe had the biggest impact on the game?
Let us know in the comments below 👇 pic.twitter.com/NfpuB5nooo— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 14, 2024
Pakistan dropped 8 catches against New Zealand. 🤯pic.twitter.com/kW53N2A31t
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 14, 2024
All in one
Pakistan this match:
8 Drop Catches
2 Batters Run Out
1 Batter stumped
2 Teams eliminated together— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) October 14, 2024
Preserved
Heritage of Pakistan Men’s Team Preserved by Pakistan Women’s Team
8️⃣ Drop Catches in a Single Match 😯#PakistanCricket #PAKvENGpic.twitter.com/lq4cKryTMV— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) October 14, 2024
You know how many catches where dropped by #Pakistan in today’s match #NZWvsPAKW pic.twitter.com/G7EmSqKxWh
— Munaf Patel (@munafpa99881129) October 14, 2024
Same same
Multiple times
Pakistan cricket team players dropped multiple catches.
” Everything temporary but them dropping catch is permanent”.😂#T20WomenWorldCup2024 #PAKvsNZ pic.twitter.com/uOBa7IRvMG— Sarcasm (@sarcastic_us) October 14, 2024
Pakistan womens and mens team making such a great record of dropping catches… #PAKvsNZ pic.twitter.com/WpcWtZK9e5
— Ujjawal Beniwal (@UjjawalBeniwal) October 14, 2024
Too generous
Pakistan women team was too generous today in their fielding. Dropped 8 catches!! More than the wickets they took.
— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) October 14, 2024
