Mon | Oct 27, 2025

Women’s Cricket World Cup: England ease past NZ

Published:Monday | October 27, 2025 | 12:09 AM
England’s Amy Jones celebrates after reaching 50 during the ICC Women’s World Cup match between England and New Zealand at ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, India yesterday.
AP
England’s Amy Jones celebrates after reaching 50 during the ICC Women’s World Cup match between England and New Zealand at ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, India yesterday.

VISAKHAPATNAM, India (AP):

Sophie Devine bid adieu to One-Day Internationals (ODI) in a losing cause as England beat New Zealand by eight wickets yesterday in their final league game at the Women’s Cricket World Cup.

Rain later forced the abandonment of the match between India and Bangladesh. India were heading for a likely victory at 57-0 in 8.4 overs in reply to Bangladesh’s 119-9 in a game reduced to 27 overs for each team.

Left-arm spinner Linsey Smith took 3-30 as New Zealand were bowled out for 168 runs in 38.2 overs. Skipper Devine (36 years old) 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 semi-final at Guwahati on Wednesday. Australia will take on co-hosts India (fourth) in the second semi-final 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 leg before wicket.

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.