New Zealand’s captain, Sophie Devine, expressed her frustration as their game against Pakistan in Colombo was abandoned due to persistent rain on October 18. The match saw New Zealand in a strong position with Pakistan struggling at 52 for three in 12.2 overs before the first interruption occurred. Despite the game resuming and New Zealand reducing Pakistan to 92 for five in 25 overs, rain once again disrupted play. Thunder, lightning, and heavy rain prevented any chance of a restart, making it the fifth rain-affected game in Colombo and the fourth one to be called off.
Following the match, Devine voiced her disappointment at their World Cup chances being affected by the weather after a long wait for the tournament. She hoped that future editions would consider starting games earlier to mitigate weather-related disruptions. Devine emphasized the importance of being well-prepared for the upcoming challenges, stating that her team needed to win the next two games. New Zealand will face India and England in their final matches in Navi Mumbai.
“We just need to focus on playing cricket. We have a clear goal of winning the next two games and will prepare accordingly in Mumbai. The upcoming matches against strong teams on their home ground pose a real challenge, but we are eager to face it head-on,” Devine remarked.