Just a month ago, Sophie Devine and Alyssa Healy were reminiscing about the early days of T20 cricket, when Australia struggled to consistently beat New Zealand. However, the tables have turned dramatically. Australia is now on a six-match winning streak against New Zealand, including a clean sweep in their recent home series.
Despite their rivalry, Devine finds herself rooting for Australia in their upcoming match against India. She even joked about possibly wearing an Australian shirt during their training session in Dubai, which coincides with the India-Australia match.
The group stage of the T20 World Cup has become a three-way battle between Australia, New Zealand, and India. Australia currently leads with six points and a strong net run rate. New Zealand and India are closely behind with four points each.
India’s match against Australia is crucial for both teams. A significant victory for India could secure their place in the semifinals. However, a narrow loss might allow New Zealand to overtake them based on net run rate.
New Zealand’s recent win over Sri Lanka has improved their net run rate, but they have faced questions about their approach to the match. Devine emphasized the importance of focusing on winning the game and not getting distracted by net run rate calculations.
Looking ahead to their match against Pakistan, Devine acknowledged the challenges they will face. Pakistan has a strong team and is eager to perform well. Devine expressed her desire for New Zealand to play a clinical game and secure a victory.
While Devine’s team is focused on their own performance, she also admitted to hoping for an Australian win against India. Such a result would make their path to the semifinals easier.
