In the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, New Zealand finally scored when they defeated Bangladesh by 100 runs in Guwahati. The two main batsmen, Brooke Halliday and Sophie Devine, put together an essential 112-run partnership that saved New Zealand from a top-order meltdown. To guarantee New Zealand’s undefeated run against Bangladesh in all formats, Jess Kerr, Lea Tahuhu, and Rosemary Mair split eight wickets between them.
On a slow surface, New Zealand chose to bat first and found themselves in early difficulties at 38 for 3, with leggie Rabeya Khan (3 for 30) taking two wickets and Suzie Bates being run out. With patient batting that rotated the strike and punished the wayward deliveries, Halliday and Devine steadied the innings. Halliday made a strong 69 from 104 balls, while Devine hit 63 from 85 balls. The team concluded on 227 for 9 thanks to their partnership, which allowed the innings to go long. Maddy Green’s 25 gave them late impetus.
Bangladesh never settled against the new ball in response. With wickets falling often and the first boundary of the innings occurring after 10.5 overs, the top order collapsed. Bangladesh’s powerplay ended at 22 for 3, the tournament’s lowest ten-over total. On a field where scoring runs wasn’t easy, Tahuhu (3 for 22) then joined in, hitting thrice in a single over to put Bangladesh at 33 for 6, almost a point of no return.
Though it simply postponed the inevitable, Fahima Khatun fought for her 34 and added little stands with the lesser rank. In the 40th over, Bangladesh was knocked out for 127.
Brief scores: New Zealand 227/9 in 50 overs (Brooke Halliday 69, Sophie Devine 63; Rabeya Khan 3-30) beat Bangladesh 127 in 39.5 overs (Fahima Khatun 34; Jess Kerr 3-21, Lea Tahuhu 3-22, Rosemary Mair 2-20) by 100 runs
