Last month, Sophie Devine and Alyssa Healy reminisced about the early days of T20 cricket and Australia’s previous struggles against New Zealand, a streak where Australia couldn’t secure a win for six matches. Fast forward to today, Australia holds a six-match winning streak against New Zealand, including a dominant victory in their recent T20 World Cup Group A game.
Despite being fierce rivals, Devine will be supporting the injury-plagued Australian team on Sunday. “A few of us might be donning an Australian shirt” during team training in Dubai, she remarked, as Australia faces India in their final group match in Sharjah.
Group A currently features a tight three-way race. Undefeated Australia leads with six points from three games and an impressive net run-rate of +2.786, while New Zealand (+0.282) and India (+0.576) each have four points, separated by their NRR.
India has the potential to complicate New Zealand’s path to the semifinals if they defeat Australia by 61 runs or more, assuming a first-innings score of 150. Such a victory would secure India’s automatic qualification. If India loses, their NRR will remain ahead of New Zealand’s only if the defeat margin is less than 16 runs, setting up a crucial scenario for New Zealand’s final game against Pakistan.
New Zealand’s recent eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka boosted their NRR slightly, but Devine emphasized simplicity and respect for the game. “Cricket has a funny way of biting you if you don’t give it the respect it deserves,” Devine said after the match. She noted the dangers of focusing too much on NRR, as it can lead to unexpected losses.
With their final group game against Pakistan, New Zealand knows exactly what they need to do. Devine highlighted the flexibility within the squad, capable of adapting strategies and line-ups as required. Offspinner Leigh Kasperek, the Player of the Match against Sri Lanka, exemplified this flexibility with her match-winning performance of 2/27.
Devine also acknowledged areas for improvement despite the win. “We missed the stumps, we were a bit too wide, and we got punished. On the field, we missed a couple of opportunities,” she said. Yet, she sees this as an exciting challenge, believing the team has room to grow before the semifinals.
New Zealand’s recent history with Pakistan adds another layer of intrigue. Pakistan defeated New Zealand for the first time in a T20I last December, eventually winning the series 2-1. With Pakistan’s Fatima Sana returning for the group game, Devine is cautious of their determination.
“Pakistan are in a really dangerous position with a lot to play for, especially with Fatima Sana motivated by her loss,” Devine noted. “In a World Cup campaign, you don’t need any more motivation.”
Ultimately, Devine hopes for an Australian victory to ease New Zealand’s path. “They’re two fierce competitors,” she said of India and Australia, before adding with a grin, “Let’s hope there’s a good game of cricket—and that Australia wins.”
