Across the side of the world on a relatively small island, New Zealand flipped the
sporting scripts delivering a weekend of incredible performances. A third consecutive
America’s Cup sealed in Sailing, Canoe Polo world champions and victory for the
Silver Ferns netball team signalled a successful sporting weekend and some sore
heads on Monday morning. Yet, there was more to come…
Bengaluru played host to a remarkable Test match that ebbed and flowed constantly.
India headed into the series as clear favourites but no one could have expected
a Matt Henry inspired bowling attack to skittle them for 46. Despite a blockbuster
comeback in their second innings of 462, the Kiwis prevailed in a seven wicket win
for their first victory in India since 1986.
New Zealand's men had had what could be considered an inconsistent year before this point
Then we head to Dubai - the scene of the Women’s T20 World Cup final. The
culmination of a tournament full of dramatic moments, surprise eliminations and
plenty of dropped catches. In New Zealand and South Africa, the women’s game had
two unexpected finalists and a guaranteed new name on the trophy. Still, South
Africa, supercharged with batting all rounders and led by the destructive Laura
Wolvaardt seemed destined for glory having fallen just short to Australia in 2023 -
the team they emphatically knocked out in the semi finals.
The White Ferns, however, ripped up the scripts and delivered a performance akin to their
compatriots across the sporting sphere. Melie Kerr’s match winning 43 and 3-24
sealed a historic victory and rewarded Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates - with a
combined 624 caps - their golden moment 18 years on from their debuts. This
remarkable feat made more memorable having entered the tournament on a 10
match losing streak!
Dubai is simply Devine for the White Ferns
With two balls to go, the world broadcast feed cut to captain Sophie Devine,
desperately trying to hide her emotions. She and her team of emerging young stars
were about to create history. Two balls later, an embrace with Suzie Bates revealed
joy, disbelief and ecstasy. Having suffered heartbreak in 2009 and 2010, you
wouldn’t have begrudged Devine or Bates for believing this moment wouldn’t come.
The experienced duo have witnessed the highs and lows of the women’s game
and the rapid growth in professionalisation. Australia, arguably the greatest sports side the world has ever known, have dominated the global order whilst India and England have showed glimpses of capability to disrupt them. In reality, England and India are the only two sides with the financial clout to keep at the heels of the Aussies.
The gulf in class was evident 18 months earlier with Australia’s 6th title from only 9 editions of the T20 World Cup. In Dubai, however, the tectonic plates of the women’s landscape shifted slightly towards their small neighbours and it was Devine and Bates who were there to orchestrate it.
New Zealand entered the tournament with 10 consecutive T20I losses and only 8
wins from 26 games. A team undergoing transition arrived in Dubai with little
expectation.
Eden Carson (23), Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Gaze and Fran Jonas (all 20) have been forced to hone their skills in the vicious hunting ground of international cricket. Leg spinning all rounder Amelia Kerr at 24 is the experienced world class performer, having debuted at 17. For too long, their batting relied on Kerr, with Devine and Bates’ returns dwindling, and their bowling lacked potency and experience. But what they lacked in experience, they made up for in unshakeable belief.
An aggressive approach to the powerplay put the Kiwis in the driving seat for the game - a tactic that any other day could have resulted in the loss of early wickets paid dividends in the setting of a competitive target of 158.
As opposed to the experience of Devine and Bates which has been relied on for the batting it was the young spin trio of Fran Jonas, Eden Carson and Kerr who did most of the work in reducing the Proteas run-rate and ultimately left the South Africans well short of the target. As the run rate grew, desperation set in which allowed the spin trio to take 5 wickets between them and Rosemary Mair to clear up the lower/middle order.
The White Ferns rode their luck but became the first New Zealand cricket team to get their hands on a World Cup.
From the gloom of Galle to the brilliance of Bengaluru
Off the back of 4 straight losses in red ball cricket, New Zealand travelled to the most difficult of tours in the Test sphere: India.
Their extended tour to the subcontinent had, up until this point, been a failure on all grounds. A one-off Test against Afghanistan was washed out and both games against Sri Lanka in Galle ended in abject defeat.
The Black Caps trial by spin in Galle had failed and the task was only due to get harder as just 20 days later they were due in Bengaluru to face an India team who have lost just 4 Tests at home in 12 years and only 3 times ever to New Zealand at home.
The Black Caps managed to nullify the likes of Ravindra Jadeja
With respect to up-and-coming Sri Lanka the combination of Prabath Jayasuriya and Nishan Peiris compared to Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin is hardly a comparison and many suspected this series to be a walkover. All of this without their talismanic batter, Kane Williamson.
The opening day brought a complete Indian collapse to pace bowling thanks to Matt Henry and Will O’Rouke on a pitch that seamed uncharacteristically for an Indian deck.
From there, New Zealand dealt with the rest of the Test clinically and were always ahead of the game thanks to a Rachin Ravindra hundred to take a first innings lead in excess of 350.
Despite a Safaraz Khan tonne and a Rishabh Pant 99, a 4th innings chase of 110 was simple enough for an experienced Kiwi batting order.
So brought home New Zealand’s first win in India in 36 years and their third ever.
All of this on the same day as the White Ferns brought home the T20 World Cup.
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