England beat New Zealand by 8 wickets, finishes second in league phase

Bangla Press Desk:   Sophie Devine bid adieu to ODIs in a losing cause as England beat New Zealand by eight wickets on Sunday in their final league game at the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup.

Left-arm spinner Linsey Smith took 3-30 as New Zealand was bowled out for 168 runs in 38.2 overs. Skipper Devine scored 23 runs in her final ODI appearance, while Georgia Plimmer top-scored with 43 runs.

In reply, England scored 172-2 in 29.2 overs with opener Amy Jones leading the way with 86 not out off 92 balls.

The four-time champions finished second in the league with five wins and a no-result in seven games. England’s only loss came against defending champions and table-toppers Australia.

England pushed South Africa down to third with the win. The two sides will meet in the first semifinal at Guwahati on Wednesday. Australia will take on co-hosts India (fourth) in the second semi on Thursday.

The White Ferns finished sixth in the table with one win and two no-results in seven games. Devine was given the guard of honour by both teams as she walked off the field after the match.

Opting to bat, New Zealand lost opener Suzie Bates early when she was caught off Linsey Smith in the sixth over.

Georgia Plimmer and Amelia Kerr added 68 off 81 balls for the second wicket, but a double blow pegged back the Kiwis again.

Kerr was caught for 35 off 43 balls in the 19th over, and in the very next over, Charlie Dean trapped Plimmer lbw.

It became 101-4 as Brooke Halliday was dismissed for four. Thereafter, the lower-middle order didn’t put up much fight as New Zealand lost wickets regularly.

Nat Sciver-Brunt finished with 2-31 in seven overs, dismissing Devine in her final ODI innings. Linsey Smith returned to pick up two more wickets, while Alice Capsey took 2-34 in six overs.

The White Ferns lost seven wickets for 67 runs and were bundled out in the 39th over.

In reply, England made a good start with Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont putting on 75 runs off 88 balls for the first wicket.

Beaumont was eventually out lbw for 40 off 38 balls after hitting seven fours.

Devine left one final mark on the game when she trapped Heather Knight lbw for 33 off 40 balls in the 28th over. Jones and Knight had put on 83 off 75 balls for the second wicket.

Jones scored her second half-century of the tournament off 71 balls, and stayed unbeaten, with 11 fours plus a six.

It was the least number of wins for New Zealand in Women’s Cricket World Cups since 1978, when it had won one in three games.

Jones was named player of the match.

“The pitch was quite challenging,” said Jones. “It was slow and frustrating. So I am happy to get through that. Tammy was brilliant at the start and took pressure off me. It is hugely exciting to be in the semifinal. It was great for Sophie to get this recognition (guard of honour) – she is a legend of the game and she means a lot to New Zealand cricket,” she said.

BP/SP