Can Sophie Devine and Brooke Halliday Lead New Zealand to Victory?
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Synopsis
In a thrilling match at Baraspara Stadium, the New Zealand Women's cricket team, led by Sophie Devine and Brooke Halliday, displayed resilience and skill to post a competitive score against Bangladesh. With key contributions and an impressive partnership, they set the stage for an exciting chase in the Women's World Cup 2025.
Key Takeaways
- Sophie Devine and Brooke Halliday formed a crucial partnership.
- New Zealand posted a competitive score of 227/9.
- Rabeya Khan was the standout bowler for Bangladesh.
- New Zealand rebuilt after a shaky start.
- Bangladesh faces a challenging target on a sluggish pitch.
Guwahati, Oct 10 (NationPress) A determined partnership between skipper Sophie Devine and Brooke Halliday enabled New Zealand Women to bounce back from a precarious beginning, finishing with a score of 227/9 against Bangladesh Women in their Women’s World Cup 2025 encounter at Baraspara Stadium on Thursday.
Devine and Halliday formed a strong alliance, amassing a remarkable 112-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s promising leg-spinner Rabeya Khan shone with the ball, securing impressive figures of 3/30, keeping her team competitive.
Choosing to bat first, New Zealand experienced a slow start on a challenging pitch. Suzie Bates found her rhythm in this tournament, providing a solid foundation, but her dismissal for 29 — following a mix-up with partner Georgia Plimmer — sparked a brief collapse.
Plimmer struggled to find her footing, scoring just 4 off 18 balls before being stumped in the ninth over. Shortly after, Amelia Kerr fell to Rabeya for just 1 run, leaving the White Ferns in a tough spot at 35/2 by the end of the powerplay.
It was at this juncture that Devine and Halliday took control. Displaying exceptional patience and composure, the duo steadied the innings, effectively rotating the strike and capitalizing on loose deliveries. Halliday reached a composed fifty off 80 balls before departing for 69 in the 39th over. Devine continued the fight, scoring her half-century off 82 balls and ultimately contributing a resilient 63 while attempting to accelerate the innings.
Contributions from the lower order, including Maddy Green (25), Isabella Gaze (12), Lea Tahuhu (12), and Eden Carson (4), helped New Zealand finish their innings at 227/9 after 50 overs.
Despite their strong start, Bangladesh struggled to maintain wicket-taking momentum in the middle overs, allowing New Zealand to rebuild. Rabeya Khan stood out with her disciplined spell of 3-30 over 10 overs. She was supported by Marufa Akter (1-58), Nahida Akter (1-36), Nishita Akter Nishi (1-47), and Fahima Khatun (1-37), although the pace bowlers were more expensive.
With 227 runs to chase on a slow, sluggish pitch, Bangladesh will need a composed batting performance to successfully chase down the target and maintain their tournament momentum.
Brief scores:
New Zealand 227/9 in 50 overs (Brooke Halliday 69, Sophie Devine 63; Rabeya Khan 3-30, Nadiha Akter 1-36) against Bangladesh.
Point of View
I believe this match exemplifies the unpredictability and excitement of women's cricket. New Zealand's ability to recover from a difficult position showcases their depth and determination. With the tournament's stakes high, every performance matters, and both teams have shown they can compete at this level.
NationPress
10/10/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the New Zealand vs Bangladesh match?
New Zealand scored 227/9 in their innings.
Who were the standout players for New Zealand?
The standout players were Sophie Devine with 63 runs and Brooke Halliday with 69 runs.
How did Rabeya Khan perform in the match?
Rabeya Khan delivered an impressive bowling performance, taking 3 wickets for 30 runs.
Where was the match played?
The match took place at Baraspara Stadium in Guwahati.
What does Bangladesh need to do to chase the target?
Bangladesh needs a solid and composed batting effort to successfully chase down the target of 228 runs.
