NEWS
Follow UsNew Zealand had lost 10 matches in a row ahead of the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 opener against India in Dubai on October 4 (Friday). However, they put up a thorough performance and broke the streak with a 58-run victory. New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine does not think her side anything different this game, but glad that it came off at a crucial juncture.
"I reckon the last six to seven games we've tried to play like that, we've tried to show really good intent I actually don't think much change it's just tonight came off for us and we were able to find the boundary, I thought the options they took were excellent but to me nothing's changed over the last seven, eight, nine, 10 games It's just that we haven't got the results that we wanted," Devine said at the post-match press conference.
"And for us to be able to do it on the big stage tonight against India, I'm just really proud of this group and really pleased that, yeah, we know we've been doing the right things. We just haven't quite got the results. So tonight, to get reward for that is something that I think is really exciting for this group. But we also know that there's a long way to go in this tournament. And that's just one game."
For many in the group, including Devine, this could very well be their last World Cup. Hence, Devine wants to leave no stone unturned to make this a special one.
"Obviously, it's been highlighted that me and Suze[Suzie Bates] have played a fair few of these World Cups, and Leah's [Tahuhu] obviously been around for a long time, but for this group, it is really special. We've got a really special bond between everyone in this group," Devine said.
"I think, I don't think I've been in a better environment in terms of how much love and care there is amongst the players and the support staff too, and certainly for us old experienced girls.
"We know how special it is and we want to make this tournament as special as possible, not just for us, but for the whole group, because, yeah, there's probably not too many more of these World Cups for us left, so we just want to give absolutely everything to this jersey, to this team, and, you know, hopefully we can go deep in this tournament, and tonight's game's certainly one step on that journey, But we know, as I said, that there's still a long way to go in this tournament."
Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer put up 55 in the powerplay, which Devine believes set up a terrific platform. "I thought the way we batted I thought the foundation that was laid by Susie and Georgia was outstanding and got us ahead of the game early," Devine, who scored an unbeaten 36-ball 57, said.
"So, I think that probably did lay the platform for us. And to be able to get a total that we thought was probably 10 - 15 runs over par meant that we could be really attacking with our bowling. Simple but effective and I thought, yeah, every bowler today did their role perfectly well."
New Zealand will look to make it two in two, when they take on Australia next on October 8 (Tuesday) in Sharjah.
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