“Anything Can Happen”: Devine Aims for New Zealand Comeback After India’s Surprise World Cup Loss

New Zealand Eyes Comeback After Convincing Win Over Bangladesh.

Following New Zealand’s first win of the ongoing Women’s World Cup, captain Sophie Devine expressed optimism about her team’s chances of turning around their tournament fortunes. On Friday, October 10, in Guwahati, the White Ferns thrashed Bangladesh by 100 runs, moving to fifth place in the points table after earlier losses to Australia and South Africa.

“Really pleasing for the side to get our first win after a couple of frustrating games. We played well against Australia at times but lost our way against South Africa,” Devine told the broadcaster. She added that South Africa’s dramatic win over India on Thursday night was a reminder that “anything can happen in this tournament.”

Devine, who has scored 63, 85, and 112 in the tournament so far, also spoke about the physical challenges of playing in humid conditions as a diabetic. “I was running a bit low on sugar. As a diabetic, you have to manage that—it’s part and parcel of playing at this level,” she said.

The captain welcomed the return of pace spearhead Lea Tahuhu, who impressed in her 100th international match. “We had talked about attacking the stumps, and she executed brilliantly. She must have lost about six kilos in sweat, but it was an excellent performance,” Devine said.

Brooke Halliday, who scored 69 and was named Player of the Match, credited Devine’s guidance and calm presence at the crease. “The bowlers we practiced against in Chennai were similar to Bangladesh’s attack. We worked a lot on the sweep shot, which really helped. Batting with Sophie was easy; she kept it simple and clear on a tough day,” Halliday added.

Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana reflected on her team’s struggles, especially in the top order. “We wanted to replicate the positive things we did in previous games, but consistency was missing,” she said. Sultana praised her spinners but stressed that contributions from the lower order were needed to avoid collapses in upcoming matches.

In the match, New Zealand recovered from a shaky 38 for 3, thanks to a 112-run partnership between Devine and Halliday, eventually posting 227 for nine. The bowlers then dominated Bangladesh, bowling them out for 127, with Jess Kerr (3/21) and Lea Tahuhu (3/22) leading the attack.

After this dominant performance, Devine believes the White Ferns can build momentum and remain strong contenders in the tournament. Drawing lessons from earlier setbacks and inspired by the unpredictable nature of World Cup cricket, she remains confident that New Zealand’s campaign is far from over.