Through a dominating England dominated New Zealand by 8 wickets in their last group stage match of the Women's ODI World Cup 2025 on Sunday.
The win, which was largely due to an excellent spin bowling performance, propelled England to second place on the points table with 11 points, just one point behind the leaders Australia (13). For New Zealand, it was a goodbye to an era as Sophie Devine played her last ODI - but unfortunately, it did not end with the storybook she would have wished for. The White Ferns were dismissed for a tournament-low 168 in 38.2 overs and had already been knocked out before the match.
Spinners shine as England dominate New Zealand
Without their star bowler Sophie Ecclestone, who injured her shoulder, England's spinners were the highlight of the show as they broke through the New Zealand batting lineup. Linsey Smith was the main destroyer with 3 for 30 in 9.2 overs, and Alice Capsey was successful too getting 2 for 34.
On top of that, Nat Sciver-Brunt (2/31), Charlie Dean (1/20), and Ecclestone—who only got four deliveries in before leaving—also made vital contributions.
After winning the toss and deciding to bat first, New Zealand did not go on to make a big score after a bright start. Georgia Plimmer the very young player made a fighting 43 off 57 balls and with Amelia Kerr (35 off 43) added 68 runs for the second wicket. Nevertheless, Capsey got Kerr and Dean had Plimmer caught in consecutive overs and the team quickly went down.
Devine in her last match was able to score 23 off 35 balls and then was dismissed by Sciver-Brunt.
It was just a question of time before England got the required runs. Openers Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones combined for a fluent 75-run partnership, their fourth fifty-plus stand of the tournament. Beaumont scored 40 off 38 balls before getting out to Lea Tahuhu, but at that time, England's target was very easy to achieve.
It was Jones who regained her form as she scored a very controlled but at the same time aggressive innings of 86 not out from 92 balls decorated with 11 fours and a six. Captain Heather Knight, who scored a quick 47 off 54 balls, also helped her as the pair added 83 runs for the second wicket to complete the chase in just 29.2 overs.
In a very touching moment, Knight became Devine’s last ODI victim, as the New Zealand captain stumped her leg-before and got a standing ovation from the crowd and her teammates. Devine, who leaves the game having scored 4,279 runs in 159 ODIs at an average of 32.66 with nine centuries, received a big round of applause as she went off — a perfect send-off for one of the legends of women’s cricket.
Anyway, the loss notwithstanding, Devine will still be remembered for her great legacy, which is very inspiring. Her contributions to the tournament, to be exact, a hundred against Australia and half-centuries against South Africa and Bangladesh, were the perfect examples of her class and fighting spirit till the end.
(With PTI Inputs)
