White Ferns v Australia: Sophie Devine ton not enough as NZ fall in Women’s Cricket World Cup opener

Sophie Devine walks off after being dismissed during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup India 2025 match between Australia and New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images

A century from Sophie Devine wasn’t enough as the White Ferns fell 89 runs short of defeating Australia in their opening match of the 2025 World Cup in Indore, India.

Just like in Wellington at the last World Cup, Ashleigh Gardner provided a middle-order knock that proved to be the difference, this time bashing 115 from 83 balls to help the defending champions reach 326, their highest tally against New Zealand.

Lea Tahuhu (3-42) and Jess Kerr (3-59) were the best of a White Ferns attack who had Australia 128 for five before Gardner arrived at the crease to craft her second ODI ton.

The all-rounder produced a masterclass in rescue and destruction in compiling her 115 in Indore, first steadying the ship and then going hell for leather in the closing overs to help Australia set a daunting target.

Gardner hit 16 fours and one six before Bree Illing had her caught behind in the 47th over. Australia were dismissed with three balls remaining in their innings but by then the damage was done.

Illing finished with 2-75, conceding the most runs by a White Ferns bowler in an ODI.

Leg-spinner Amelia Kerr bagged her 100th ODI wicket, foxing Phoebe Litchfield with a well-disguised googly to join an exclusive club of New Zealand bowlers.

New Zealand’s chase couldn’t have got to a worse start, with Georgia Plummer run out without facing a ball in the first over, before fellow opener Suzie Bates also departed for a duck the following over.

Devine had some support from Amelia Kerr (33), Brook Halliday (28), Maddy Green (20) and Izzy Gaze (28) but needed one those four to push on as she reached her ninth ODI ton, doing so with a six.

With New Zealand needing 92 from 48 at 235 for six, and Devine still at the crease, there was hope of a remarkable chase, but she was bowled by Annabel Sutherland for 111 from 112 balls.

New Zealand then lost their final three wickets in six balls.

“It’s bittersweet to be fair, I’d throw it all away to make sure we won,” Devine said.

“Just happy with the fight this team showed, a couple of years ago we would have thrown the towel in pretty early. But it’s a hard one, you want to be on the winning team, so hard to digest at the moment. It shows the mindset of the group that we stay in the fight.”

In the process of her ton, Devine joined an elite club, becoming only the fourth New Zealander to pass 4,000 runs in ODIs.

New Zealand have now lost their last 16 ODIs to Australia, stretching back to 2017, a streak they’ll be now hoping to break later in the tournament.

Next up they face South Africa on Monday night in Indore.

- With AFP