What a heart-pounding comeback! New Zealand's women's cricket team battled back from the brink of disaster to scrape together 228 runs against Bangladesh, thanks in large part to a gritty partnership between Sophie Devine and Brooke Halliday. But here's where it gets controversial – was electing to bat first on a sluggish pitch a masterstroke or a risky gamble that nearly cost them the game? Stick around as we dive into the details of this nail-biting innings, unpacking the strategies, the key moments, and the questions that have fans buzzing.
In the match report from ESPNcricinfo, New Zealand's total of 227 for 9 (with one run added in extras, making it 228) was built on the backs of Devine and Halliday, who forged a crucial 112-run alliance for the fourth wicket. Both players notched up half-centuries – Halliday with 69 and Devine with 63 – but they had to dial back their usual flair for much of their time at the crease, focusing instead on steady accumulation to give New Zealand's score some much-needed dignity. For beginners in cricket, this means they played defensively, avoiding risky shots to build a foundation, rather than going for big hits right away. Bangladesh, however, will need to dig deep and perform exceptionally well to chase down 228 on this slow, low-bouncing surface, where the ball doesn't come onto the bat easily and every run feels hard-earned.
New Zealand chose to bat first, but things went south quickly as they tumbled to 38 for 3 by the 11th over. Legspinner Rabeya Khan was the chief tormentor, using her ability to make the ball drift in the air and turn sharply off the pitch to unsettle the batsmen. For those new to the game, legspin is a type of bowling where the ball spins from the leg side (the batsman's right if they're right-handed), often causing confusion with its unpredictable movement. Georgia Plimmer was caught out of her crease and stumped – that's when the wicketkeeper breaks the stumps before the batsman can ground their bat – after missing a delivery. Amelia Kerr, the star all-rounder, was bowled by a ball that gripped the pitch (stuck a bit before bouncing) and swung away to evade her edge. Between these dismissals, former captain Suzie Bates fell victim to a run-out mix-up with Kerr, a classic cricket blunder where partners fail to communicate and end up at the same end of the pitch.
Bates, who had scored zero in her first two innings of the tournament, faced a potential third duck (a score of zero) when Marufa Akter's sharp inducker – a ball that swings into the batsman from outside off stump – struck her pad. But the Decision Review System (DRS) came to her rescue, with replays showing the ball would have missed the stumps, sparing her. This is a great example of how technology like DRS, using ball-tracking software, helps umpires make fair calls in close situations. Energized by the reprieve, Bates launched a counterattack, smashing three boundaries off Marufa in the sixth over – boundaries are shots that reach the rope for four runs, often hit powerfully. However, she was soon run out, ending her brief resurgence.
From there, Devine and Halliday adopted a cautious approach, going 62 balls without hitting a boundary, which is a long time in cricket terms, showing their patience. Halliday took the lead in being proactive, using sweeps – a shot where you kneel and hit the ball along the ground to the leg side – to disrupt Bangladesh's spinners and get them off their ideal lengths. Devine, renowned for her explosive hitting power, focused on surviving to capitalize later, perhaps because New Zealand's lower-order batsmen have been struggling for form in their previous two matches, lacking the confidence to finish strongly. And this is the part most people miss – was Devine's restraint a smart tactical choice, or did it prevent her from unleashing her full potential earlier?
Bangladesh finally broke through in the 39th over when Halliday top-edged a slog-sweep – an aggressive shot attempting to hit over the leg side – straight to legspinner Fahima Khatun, who had earlier troubled England in a similar fashion. Maddy Green and Devine kept the scoreboard ticking until Devine's wild attempt to hit across the line resulted in her dismissal for 63. With the team at 179 for 5 and just over six overs remaining, New Zealand needed a late surge. Cameos from Isabella Gaze and Lea Tahuhu provided some muscle, delivering key blows in the final overs to boost the total from what could have been a much lower, embarrassing score.
Marufa Akter was Bangladesh's most costly bowler, giving away 58 runs in seven overs. Despite her natural inswing ability – where the ball curves towards the batsman – she lacked consistency in line and length, particularly against Halliday early and in the middle stages. Yet, it's the spinners who have once again put Bangladesh in a strong position to chase. This raises a controversial point: are Bangladesh's spinners the unsung heroes of their team, or do critics argue they rely too heavily on them, leaving their pace bowlers underutilized?
In wrapping up, this innings showcased New Zealand's grit but also highlighted vulnerabilities in their top order and lower middle. For Bangladesh, it's a chance to prove their chasing prowess on a tricky pitch. What do you think – should New Zealand have batted differently, or is this a setup for an epic run chase? Do you agree that spinners are Bangladesh's secret weapon, or should they diversify their attack? Share your thoughts in the comments below; I'd love to hear your take!
