Sophie Devine, the renowned all-rounder, bid farewell on a disappointing note as New Zealand concluded their Women’s World Cup campaign with an eight-wicket loss to England led by Nat Sciver-Brunt on Sunday, October 26. The White Ferns secured their only victory against Bangladesh by a margin of 100 runs, while their matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Colombo were abandoned due to rain. Devine’s performance in her final ODI included scoring 23 runs and taking one wicket in four overs.
England bounced back from a previous defeat by Australia, defeating New Zealand convincingly. In the match, New Zealand, opting to bat first, were all out for 168 in 38.2 overs. Suzie Bates, likely in her final ODI World Cup alongside Devine, had a disappointing tournament with an average of only eight. Georgia Plimmer and Amelia Kerr provided a brief revival with a 68-run partnership for the second wicket.
Kerr started aggressively, scoring 26 off her first 15 balls before slowing down to finish with 35 off 43 deliveries. However, New Zealand’s batting collapsed, losing their last eight wickets in just 19.2 overs. England’s victory was even more remarkable considering Sophie Ecclestone left the field after bowling only four deliveries due to a shoulder injury.
In the chase, England dominated, reaching the target with 20.4 overs to spare. Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont set the stage with a 75-run opening partnership. Heather Knight and Jones’ 83-run stand further solidified England’s position. Jones played a stellar innings, remaining unbeaten on 86 off 92 balls, including 11 fours and a six. Devine, in her final act in ODIs, dismissed Knight for 33 off 40 balls. Jones then sealed the victory with a boundary off Devine through the covers.
The match concluded with England’s comprehensive win, showcasing their strength ahead of upcoming series.