Devine has Australian ‘bullies’ in her sights
The White Ferns were pushed around and taught a cricketing lesson in Australia last month.
In the words of Sophie Devine, they were maybe even bullied in that 3-0 series sweep.
On that evidence it doesn’t auger well for the New Zealanders to upset their trans-tasman rivals in Guyana at 1pm today, a match that will determine their fate in this World Twenty20.
Go back further in recent history and Devine sees grounds for optimism. She knows they can be beaten in the big show. At the last two World T20s, in fact, the White Ferns toppled Australia in India in 2016 and Bangladesh two years earlier.
‘‘The opportunity to go headtohead in a World Cup is something we’re really excited about and we’ve got a fantastic record against them. From my memory we’ve only lost once to them in a World Cup since I’ve been involved,’’ Devine told reporters.
‘‘A one-off game is huge for us and we’re really looking forward to taking them on head on.’’
Australia are ranked No 1 and New Zealand No 3, with England splitting them. Their respective opening games told different tales: Australia posted 165-5 and beat Pakistan by 52 runs, while the White Ferns conceded 194-5 to India and lost by 34.
‘‘They’ve been typical Australians, haven’t they? They’ve been bullies. But that’s why they’re at the top of the world at the moment,’’ Devine said.
‘‘They’re a great side with great depth.
‘‘Any time you put Kiwis versus the Aussies it’s going to be a big match and we’re absolutely pumped for it.’’
Captain Meg Lanning’s Australia are 2-0 in group B after a nine-wicket victory over Ireland chasing 94. Wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy is the prized wicket, having scored 48 and 54 not out in their opening two, after averaging 46 at a strike rate of 147 against the White Ferns last month.
New Zealand had several days to digest their defeat to India which put them under huge pressure to topple Australia and stay alive. The top-two from each group progress to the semifinals.
After some early inroads from the pace of Lea Tahuhu, New Zealand’s spin-heavy attack was hammered by Harmanpreet Kaur who hit a 49-ball century, including eight sixes.
‘‘We were dominated by one player who played extremely well and that happens.’’
The White Ferns need their world-class players Devine, Suzie Bates and skipper Amy Satterthwaite to stand up, all Big Bash regulars, while 18-year-old legspinner Amelia Kerr will shoulder some burden having bamboozled Australia before.
The curious decision by Bates to step down as skipper pretournament also looms into focus with her successor, Satterthwaite, struggling to make the impact she’s capable of.
She scored 43 runs in three innings in Australia and had a game to forget against India. Her one over of off-spin went for 18 and she scored three with the bat.
New Zealand may need someone to match Kaur’s performance, buoyed by their record against Australia, to keep their fading hopes alive.
At a glance
What:
Women’s World Twenty20 group B match at Providence, Guyana, 1pm today (NZT):
Amy Satterthwaite (c), Suzie Bates, Anna Peterson, Sophie Devine, Jess Watkin, Katey Martin, Maddy Green, Leigh Kasperek, Hayley Jensen, Amelia Kerr, Lea Tahuhu, Bernadine Bezuidenhout, Kate Ebrahim, Holly Huddleston, Hannah Rowe.
New Zealand (from):
Australia (from):
Meg Lanning (c), Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, Elyse Villani, Rachael Haynes, Ellyse Perry, Sophie Molineux, Delissa Kimmince, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt, Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Jess Jonassen, Tayla Vlaeminck. Played 38, NZ won 19, Aust won 18, tied 1. NZ won 5, Aust won 5.
Head-to-head:
Last 10: