A new milestone has been attained by New Zealand captain Sophie Devine in this already illustrious career as the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 picks up speed.
Ten runs short of her fourth-thousand milestone in ODI runs, in the prelude of their campaign opener in watch against defending champions Australia, the 36-year-old all-rounder further etched her name into the record book by October 1 at the Holkar Cricket Stadium at Indore, after their clash against the Trans-Tasman rivals Australia.
On the grandest stage of all, Devine not just chased numbers but fought a lonely battle (111 off 112 balls) for her side in a stiff run chase of 327; however, the White Ferns eventually fell 89 runs short. She has cemented her legacy as one of New Zealand’s greatest modern cricketers.
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Devine’s international cricket journey started almost twenty long years ago in Brisbane. Following her T20I debut against Australia on 18th October 2006, she made her ODI debut on 22nd October 2006, again against the Australians, in Brisbane. Since then, the black jersey has been donned by her in 153 ODIs, in which she scored 4,101 runs in 140 innings at a strike rate of 85.33 and an average of 32.29. She has 16 fifties and 9 centuries to her credit, highlighting her ability either to anchor innings or go for run-scoring depending on match situations.
Out of all her memorable performances, none is fondly remembered more than that breath-taking century in India during the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2013. On 1st February 2013, against South Africa, she graced controlled aggression, thumping 145 off 131 balls. Backed by 13 fours and 6 towering sixes, Devine’s innings led New Zealand into a massive 151-run win. She returned with a Player of the Match trophy that evening, and that innings ushered in much admiration for her undaunting style of batting.
It was in the sixth over of the run chase when she reached the landmark, bowled by Sophie Molineux. There was so much responsibility on New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine’s shoulders when she walked in at 0/2 in the second over, chasing 327 against the defending champions Australia; it was the Alyssa Healy-led side that was fired up for those early breakthroughs.
However, the New Zealand skipper brought all her years of experience at the international level to bear as she dug deep into the run chase, constructing the innings block by block. She managed to pull her team out of trouble with a huge 75-run third-wicket partnership with Amelia Kerr (33 off 56 balls). Brooke Halliday (28 off 38 balls), Maddy Green (20 off 18 balls), and Isabella Gaze (28 off 18 balls) all helped to keep New Zealand alive with vital partnerships throughout the run chase.
Sophie Devine (111 off 112 balls) marched to her ninth century and first against Australia in the format, hitting 12 fours and three sixes. However, that knock wasn’t enough to secure a crucial two points for her side in the early stages of the tournament.
