Brooke Halliday and captain Sophie Devine both scored fighting fifties, enabling the bowlers to collectively lead New Zealand to a comfortable 100-run victory over Bangladesh in a Women’s World Cup match
on Friday.
Halliday and Devine rescued New Zealand with a 112-run partnership after a shaky start, helping the White Ferns post a modest 227 for nine after choosing to bat first.
New Zealand faced an early setback, losing their first three wickets for 38 runs in 10.5 overs as Georgia Plimmer (4), Suzie Bates (29), and Amelia Kerr fell in quick succession.
Devine (63) and Halliday (69) combined forces and played cautiously, forging a crucial partnership for the fourth wicket.
Despite setting a modest target, New Zealand secured an easy win following a lacklustre batting performance from Bangladesh, who were all out for 127 in 39.5 overs.
Bangladesh struggled from the start, losing wickets regularly and slumping to 30 for five by the 14th over.
Players like Rubya Haider, Sharmin Akhter, captain Nigar Sultana, Sobhana Mostary, Sumaiya Akter, and Shoma Akter failed to counter the Kiwi bowlers and fell cheaply.
The highest partnership for Bangladesh was between Fahima Khatun (34) and Rabeya Khan (25), contributing 44 runs for the eighth wicket. The second-highest stand was between Khatun and Nahida Akter (17), adding 33 runs for the seventh wicket.
For New Zealand, fast bowlers Jess Kerr (3/21) and Lea Tahuhu (3/22) were the standout performers, while Rosemary Mair (2/20) also took two wickets.
Earlier, Georgia Plimmer was the first to be dismissed, caught by wicketkeeper Nigar Sultana off leg-spinner Rabeya Khan (3/30) in the ninth over, followed by Suzie Bates being run out the very next ball.
Amelia Kerr was bowled by Khan in the 11th over, leaving Devine and Halliday to stabilise the innings with a cautious approach.
Halliday reached her fifty in style, hitting off-spinner Nishita Akhter over mid-on for a boundary. After reaching her fifty, Halliday became more aggressive, hitting leg-break bowler Shorna Akhter for a six over wide long-on.
While Halliday was aggressive, Devine took a patient approach in building her innings. Devine’s cautious knock was evidenced by her first boundary coming in the 38th over, which was followed by another one.
Halliday struck leg-spinner Fahima Khatun over square-leg but got out the next ball, top-edging a full delivery to Sultana behind the stumps. She scored five fours and a six in her 104-ball innings.
Devine reached her half-century with a massive six over long-on off Nishita Akhter Nishi. It was her third fifty-plus score in as many games at this World Cup. Once past fifty, Devine hit another six over cow cover on the next ball, but was bowled by Nishita in search of another big hit.
Devine’s runs came off 85 balls, including two fours and two sixes. Towards the end, Maddy Green played well, but New Zealand lost her and Jess Kerr in successive balls.
