Tag: New Zealand

COLOMBO: The continuous downpours at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday forced the abandonment of the 15th fixture of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 between Sri Lanka and New Zealand. 

The match was abandoned after the innings break due to continuous drizzle that prevented play from happening.

Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka posted a competitive 258-6 in their 50 overs.

Openers Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne laid a solid foundation with a 101-run stand, with the former notching up her 20th ODI fifty on 72 balls, while Gunaratne made 42 from 83 with the aid of three fours.

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Sri Lanka batted comfortably until the 40th over as New Zealand made a roaring comeback with quick wickets. As a result, Sri Lanka went from 183-3 to 198-5 in 42.4 overs.

However, it was Nilakshika Silva’s brisk knock at No. 6 that carried them to a strong total.

She struck seven fours and a six on her way to 55 from just 28 balls, also scoring the fastest fifty of the tournament.

For New Zealand, Sophie Devine starred with the ball, picking up three wickets in her nine overs.

Playing XIs

Veteran batter Kane Williamson has been ruled out of the upcoming home T20I series against England as he continues to recover from a minor medical issue, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) confirmed on Sunday.

The 35-year-old, who last represented the Black Caps in the Champions Trophy final against India in March, is expected to be available for the subsequent ODI series against the same opposition later this month.

Williamson, currently on a casual NZC contract, had earlier opted out of the T20I series against Australia and the Zimbabwe tour to fulfil county commitments with Middlesex in The Hundred.

Head coach Rob Walter revealed that Williamson’s recovery required a bit more time, emphasizing that the decision was precautionary.

“He’s obviously a world-class player, and we’re hoping these two weeks will ensure he’s ready for the ODIs against England and the following tour by the West Indies,” Walter said in a statement.

In Williamson’s absence, Mitchell Santner returns from abdominal surgery to lead the side.

However, New Zealand have been dealt a fresh setback with fast bowler Ben Sears ruled out due to a left hamstring tear sustained in training. Sears is expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks.

Rachin Ravindra, who missed the T20I series against Australia after suffering a facial injury during fielding practice, makes his comeback.

New Zealand’s injury list remains lengthy, with Finn Allen (foot), Adam Milne (ankle), Will O’Rourke (back), Glenn Phillips (groin), and Lockie Ferguson (hamstring) all unavailable.

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With wristspinner Ish Sodhi missing out, Ravindra joins Santner and Michael Bracewell as part of the spin trio. Mark Chapman could also offer part-time left-arm spin if required.

Walter praised Santner’s leadership and welcomed Ravindra’s return.

“It’s great to have Mitch back. He’s not only our leader but also one of the best white-ball spinners in the world. Likewise, it’s nice to welcome back Rachin, who was unlucky to miss out on Australia and is really excited for this series,” he said.

Veteran allrounder Jimmy Neesham, who recently turned 35, keeps his spot after impressing with figures of 4 for 26 in the third T20I against Australia.

Neesham reiterated his ambition to represent New Zealand at the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

“I want to win a World Cup for New Zealand, and that’s the reason I’m still playing,” Neesham said. “Selection ahead of the tournament is out of my hands, but I’ll stay ready and perform when called upon.”

The three-match T20I series against England begins at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, on October 18, with the second fixture at the same venue on October 20.

The final match will be played in Auckland, followed by the ODI series from October 26 to November 1, where Williamson could mark his return at his home ground, Bay Oval.

New Zealand T20I Squad

Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Tim Seifert (wk).

READ: Muthusamy spins South Africa back in first Test against Pakistan

GUWAHATI: Skipper Sophie Devine’s and Brooke Halliday’s composed half-centuries, followed by a clinical bowling performance, sealed a comprehensive 100-run victory over Bangladesh in the ICC Women’s World Cup here at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Set 229, Bangladesh were bowled out for a mere 127 in 39.5 overs.

New Zealand inflicted a poor start on Bangladesh as they removed openers Rubya Haider and Sharmin Akhter for four and three runs respectively.

The early wickets did not allow Bangladesh’s middle-order batters to settle as BlackCaps bowlers cut through the batting lineup.

Fahima Khatun top-scored with 34 from 80 balls with the help of two fours. She was the highlight of Bangladesh’s innings, adding a string of partnerships later down the order, which helped them cross the 100-run mark.

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Eventually, New Zealand bowled them out for a modest score, resulting in their first victory of the tournament.

For the Blackcaps, Jess Kerr and Lea Tahuhu picked up three wickets each.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, New Zealand posted 227-9 in their 50 overs, thanks to Devine and Halliday’s 112-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Bangladesh kept it tight from the start, leaving them reeling at 38-3 in 11 overs. However, the duo’s partnership drove New Zealand and helped them reach a respectable total.

Devine made 63 from 85, striking two sixes and two fours, whereas Halliday struck five fours and a six on her way to 69 from 104 balls.

For Bangladesh, Rabeya Khan remained the standout bowler, picking up three wickets in her quota of 10 overs while giving away 30 runs.

Playing XIs

READ: Pakistan, India to lock horns in Sultan of Johor Cup 2025

INDORE: Nonkululeko Mlaba’s four-fer followed by a Tazmin Brits sublime century powered South Africa to a resounding six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the seventh fixture of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 here at the Holkar Stadium on Monday.

Set 232, South Africa comfortably knocked off the winning runs on the loss of four wickets with 55 balls to spare.

After losing skipper Laura Wolvaardt (14 from 10) on the last ball of the third over, Tazmin Brits and Sune Luus forged a monumental 159-run stand, which threw New Zealand out of the game.

Tazmin Brits went on to score his maiden ton in the World Cup, whereas Sune Luus remained unbeaten, ensuring that the Proteas crossed the finishing line to get off the mark on the points table.

Brits made 101 from just 89 balls peppered with 15 fours and a six, whereas Luss made 83* from 110 deliveries, which was laced with 10 fours and a six.

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For New Zealand, Amelia Kerr was the only silver lining in the bowling as she picked up two wickets in her quota of ten overs.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, the Blackcaps were bundled out for 231 in 47.5 overs.

New Zealand struggled to get going and lost wickets at key intervals. The highlight of their batting was an 86-run partnership between Sophie Devine and Brooke Halliday for the fifth wicket.

However, once the stand culminated, South Africa took control of the game and never allowed New Zealand to post a formidable total.

Devine made 85 from 98, studded with nine fours, whereas Halliday, briskly 37 from 45 balls, was laced with six boundaries.

Nonkululeko Mlaba remained the standout bowler for South Africa, picking up a four-wicket haul. Ayabonga Khaka and Chloe Tryon supported her well with one wicket each.

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INDORE: Skipper Sophie Devine’s ton went in vain as Australia humbled New Zealand by 89 runs in the second fixture of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 here at the Holkar Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

The defending champions started their title defence with a 16th straight victory over New Zealand.

“The defending champions started their title defence on a perfect note, as Australia’s opening World Cup win marked their 16th straight victory over the Black Caps.”

Set a daunting 327-run target, New Zealand’s batting faltered and were bundled out for 237 in 43.2 overs.

Australia’s bowlers endured a miserable start in New Zealand as they lost both of their openers on ducks. As a result, they were reduced to 0-2 in 1.3 overs.

However, Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine put New Zealand back on course in the chase with a 75-run partnership. However, Australia chipped in with regular wickets in the middle, which never allowed the Black Caps to play with freedom.

Devine remained the top-scorer with 111 off 112 balls, laced with 12 fours and three sixes.

For Australia, Annabel Sutherland and Sophie Molineux starred with the ball, picking up three wickets each.

Earlier, Ashleigh Gardner rose to the occasion with a masterful century, rescuing her side as Australian women posted a strong total.

After opting to bat first, Australia were bowled out for 326 runs in 49.3 overs.

The openers were off to a flyer with 40 on the board at the end of five overs. Skipper Alyssa Healy scored 19 from 17 balls with the help of three fours before getting dismissed by Bree Illing.

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Australia batters kept up the run rate despite the wickets tumbling, and at the end of the powerplay, they were 81-1. However, New Zealand made a strong comeback once the fielding restrictions were lifted.

Phoebe Litchfield was bowled on the first ball after the power play. She made 45 from 31 balls, striking two sixes and half a dozen fours.

The wickets in the middle over shifted momentum towards New Zealand until Ashleigh Gardner’s arrival, who added a string of partnerships with the lower order, which steadied Australia’s innings.

The 28-year-old was involved in 64, 47, and 69 runs stands with Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, and Kim Garth, respectively.

She was eventually removed in the 46th over after scoring 115 from just 83 balls, peppered with 16 fours and a six.

For New Zealand, Lea Tahuhu and Jess Kerr shared six wickets between them.

READ: Marsh’s sublime knock powers Australia to victory in T20I opener

Mitchell Marsh’s swashbuckling knock overshadowed Tim Robinson’s maiden ton as Australia cruised to a comfortable six-wicket win over New Zealand in the opening T20I at Bay Oval on Wednesday.

Skipper Mitchell Marsh led Australia’s chase with 85 off 43 balls as they raced to 185-4 off 16.3 overs in response to the home side’s 181-6.

The powerful Marsh struck nine fours and five sixes in cold, windy conditions at Mount Maunganui.

He was caught in the deep in the 15th over to fall short of what would have been his first century in 74 T20 internationals.

Fellow-opener Travis Head scored 31 in an electric opening stand of 67 off just 5.3 overs that set up victory and a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

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Marsh said he and Head complemented each other as opening batters.

“We’ve got a great relationship off the field and I’m hoping that translates into good partnerships,” he said.

“Tonight was a lot of fun.”

Robinson plundered 106 not out off 66 balls after a dreadful New Zealand start when they were asked to bat first.

The hosts collapsed to 6-3, with seamer Ben Dwarshuis removing Devon Conway and Mark Chapman off successive balls in the second over.

The fightback was launched by Robinson and Daryl Mitchell (34), whose fourth-wicket stand of 92 came from just 55 deliveries.

Robinson, 23, became the second-youngest New Zealander to score a T20 century when he blasted a four and then a six from the last two balls of the innings from Dwarshuis.

“I got streaky through the middle there and got away with a few chances but that’s cricket,” Robinson said.

“Those Aussies bowled really well at the top and Daryl and I spoke about getting through that really tough period when the ball was nipping around.”

Both teams had a key player ruled out of the series in training incidents on Tuesday.

New Zealand batter Rachin Ravindra suffered facial cuts when he collided with a boundary fence during fielding practice.

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell broke his arm when struck by a shot from team-mate Mitchell Owen while bowling in the nets.

The remaining two games are also day-night fixtures in Mount Maunganui on Friday and Saturday.

READ: Never apologised to BCCI nor will I: Mohsin Naqvi dismisses Indian media reports

Australia suffered another setback ahead of their three-match T20I tour of New Zealand as wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis was ruled out with a calf strain, with Alex Carey drafted in as his replacement.

Inglis complained of discomfort in his right calf during a running session in Perth on Tuesday, and scans the following day confirmed the injury.

The 29-year-old is now sidelined for the series scheduled from October 1–4 in Mount Maunganui.

This marks Inglis’ second calf issue in less than a year, after a low-grade strain during the Boxing Day Test against India curtailed his BBL campaign last season.

Despite the latest setback, he is expected to regain fitness in time for the ODI series against India starting October 19 in Perth.

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The absence of Inglis adds to Australia’s growing list of withdrawals for the tour. Captain Pat Cummins is missing due to lumbar bone stress, Cameron Green has stayed back for Sheffield Shield duties as part of his Ashes buildup, and Nathan Ellis withdrew to be present for the birth of his first child.

With no reserve wicketkeeper in the original 14-man squad, selectors turned to Alex Carey, who was preparing to feature for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield.

Carey last appeared against South Africa in Cairns in August 2023, stepping in when Inglis was unwell, and hasn’t kept wicket in a T20I since 2020.

Australia T20I squad for New Zealand series

Mitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.

READ: Australia skipper Pat Cummins ‘hopeful’ of playing in Ashes

MELBOURNE: Australia have named a 14-member squad for next month’s three-match T20I series against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui, with allrounder Marcus Stoinis making his international return.

Stoinis, who stepped away from ODIs earlier this year and has been without a central or state contract for 12 months, last featured for Australia in late 2024.

His comeback headlines a squad that also sees Mitchell Owen and Matthew Short back in the fold. Owen returns after a concussion ruled him out of the South Africa series, while Short has recovered from a side strain picked up during training in Jamaica.

Selectors have opted to rest captain Pat Cummins as he manages a back problem in the lead-up to the Ashes summer, while pacer Nathan Ellis will miss the series due to paternity leave.

Cameron Green has also been left out, with his immediate focus on Sheffield Shield cricket as he builds back towards bowling.

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Fast bowler Xavier Bartlett has earned a recall, but back-up keeper Alex Carey and allrounder Aaron Hardie, both injury replacements during the South Africa series, miss out.

Ellis, who has played 10 of Australia’s last 11 T20Is, is widely regarded as a long-term option in the pace attack following Mitchell Starc’s retirement.

Left-arm quick Ben Dwarshuis also remains in contention after impressive performances in the Caribbean and against South Africa.

The three-match series begins on October 1, with all games scheduled at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. The second and third T20Is will be played on October 3 and 4, respectively.

Australia squad for New Zealand T20Is

Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.

READ: Mitchell Starc announces retirement from T20I cricket

Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers opened up on the 2015 World Cup nerve-wracking semi-final against New Zealand, reflecting on the chat with pacer Dale Steyn before the final ball of the match.

Back in 2015, New Zealand defeated South Africa by four wickets with just one ball to spare to set up the final with Australia.

Speaking on the Beard Before Wicket Podcast, AB de Villiers reflected on the key moments, pressure, and the crowd at Eden Park during that semi-final

“We had so many chances to win that semi and I think we had Aussiey’s number in that final,” he said.

“Never know now, but we beat them quite a few times leading up to that. So, we had a bit of a mental edge, and I was incredibly excited to go and face them in the final, which obviously never happened, ” he lamented.

He also recalled the noisy crowd that day and the impact on South Africa while rueing the dropped chances.

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“That day at Eden Park, one of the hardest challenges of my life. It was so loud.  They [the crowd] did well to sort of intimidate us. I thought we played well, played a good game of cricket, just fumbled a couple in the field, and it is what it is now,” revealed De Villiers.

The batting maestro highlighted the pivotal moment before the final ball, revealing a chat with Dale Steyn.

“I had told Dale,’ You get that natural away shape, go hard length, cross seam, just fire it in, beat the bat,” he said.

“Looking back now, maybe a yorker. But at the time, I honestly thought that was the right plan. Hard length, he can hit it straight up, you’ve got him. And he pulled it off.”

Following that ball, De Villiers and the South Africa players became emotional and were seen lying on the ground.

“That’s why I dropped to my knees, because I immediately felt like, it’s on me. And that’s what you feel like—you know, that’s how we play the game, that’s how you want sportsmen to play: to put everything on the line and feel like you’ve got everything to lose,” he concluded.

READ: Former captain comments on Babar Azam’s match-winning ability

New Zealand speedster Lockie Ferguson has shared his thoughts on former India captain MS Dhoni knock in the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup.

Chasing a challenging target of 240, India were in all sorts of trouble at 71-5 IN Manchester.

Nevertheless, Dhoni steadied the Indian innings in the crucial encounter, bringing the total to 178-6 in 44 overs.

However, the stalwart’s batting in the last phase of the innings came under scrutiny and sparked debate among cricket pundits.

With 52 runs required of 31 balls, Dhoni had scored 10 runs of Ferguson’s over; however, he decided to leave the last ball of the over with the required rate mounting.

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During an interview on an Indian sports platform, Lockie Ferguson recalled the moment and expressed at Dhoni’s decision to leave the ball during such a crucial time.

“I can’t remember what they were needing to chase at the time, but I knew they had to score a few runs. The plan was to bowl and see if MS would undercut it, and he left it. So I was surprised because naturally, when you’re bowling, you’re trying to restrict runs, then it’s nice when a batter leaves it,” he said.

“But I think the next over, the first ball, I tried again, and he just got it over the boundary for six. So the plan almost worked the second time as well. But it was nice to get him out that game and, of course, get across the line in the semi-final,” he added.

Eventually, MS Dhoni was run out courtesy of a direct hit from Martin Guptill after scoring 50 off 70 balls, with India requiring 24 runs off nine deliveries.

As a result, the Men in Blue were knocked out of the tournament, falling 18 runs short of the target.

It is worth noting that the semi-final match against New Zealand turned out to be the final game for MS Dhoni in the Indian jersey—the captain who led India to victory in the 2011 World Cup.

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