Sports - October 26, 2025

Sophie Devine Wins Toss in Farewell ODI as New Zealand Bat First Against England

team maverick October 26, 2025

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Visakhapatnam, Oct 2025 : New Zealand captain Sophie Devine won the toss and chose to bat first against England in her final Women’s ODI at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The match carries both emotional and competitive weight as it could mark the last World Cup appearance for Devine, Suzie Bates, and Lea Tahuhu — stalwarts of New Zealand women’s cricket.

New Zealand, the reigning T20 World Cup champions, have endured a frustrating campaign, with rain-washed matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan derailing their progress. “It looks like a great wicket today,” Devine said at the toss. “We’ve played well in patches and with the ball we’ve been good in phases. Hopefully, we can put those pieces together and enjoy the game. It’s been a real honour.”

England, on the other hand, are eyeing a strong finish to secure second place on the points table — a vital position if rain affects their upcoming semi-final against South Africa in Guwahati. In case of a washout, the team with the higher ranking will progress to the final.

To bolster their inconsistent middle order, England have included Danni Wyatt-Hodge in place of Emma Lamb. “We wanted to bat first too; it looks like a dry wicket,” said England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt. “Coming in at this stage is tough for anyone, but we’re banking on Danni’s experience.”

Playing XIs:

England: Amy Jones (wk), Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt), Sophia Dunkley, Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, Alice Capsey, Charlotte Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell.

New Zealand: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (capt), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze (wk), Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson.

As Devine leads New Zealand for the final time in an ODI, both teams will be eager to seize momentum ahead of the knockout stages — but for fans, the day belongs to one of the game’s modern greats bidding farewell with bat in hand.

Team Maverick.