Witness Brooke Halliday’s remarkable 69 as New Zealand triumphs over Bangladesh in Guwahati. Read about the match’s pivotal moments and player insights.
Introduction:
New Zealand finally hit their stride in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, overpowering Bangladesh by a comprehensive margin of 100 runs in Guwahati to claim their first points of the tournament. The match showcased both the enduring strengths of experienced White Ferns and the vulnerabilities of less-seasoned Bangladesh cricketers—the latter again struggling to maintain intensity after a promising start earlier in the tournament. Star turns from Brooke Halliday (69), Sophie Devine (63), Jess Kerr (3-21), and Lea Tahuhu (3-22) gave New Zealand a desperately needed lift, with Bangladesh capitulating for 127 in reply to a competitive total of 227 for 9.​
New Zealand’s Turnaround: Devine and Halliday Anchor the Innings
Coming into the game under pressure following consecutive losses, New Zealand needed strong leadership and a clear statement of intent. Captain Sophie Devine delivered precisely that, registering her third successive tournament fifty and steadying the innings after a top-order wobble. Brooke Halliday, adjudged Player of the Match, partnered Devine in a batting masterclass that formed the bedrock of the White Ferns’ total.​
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The early going was far from ideal for the Ferns. Georgia Plimmer fell for four, stumped by Rabeya Khan, and Suzie Bates’ 29-run cameo was cut short via a mix-up and run-out. Amelia Kerr was bowled by a superb Rabeya delivery, leaving New Zealand anxious at 38/3.​
Devine and Halliday then orchestrated a measured, assured recovery. Forgoing aggression in favor of singles and risk-free cricket, they stitched together a vital 112-run partnership—New Zealand’s best for the fourth wicket in ODIs—blunting the Bangladeshi bowling attack and silencing mounting pressure. Devine’s 63, full of maturity and composure, and Halliday’s 69—calm, clinical and crucial—represented the template for tournament resilience under duress.​
Rabeya Khan’s Spark in Bangladesh’s Bowling
Bangladesh’s Rabeya Khan was the pick of the bowlers, claiming three wickets and causing problems in the early overs. Her spell included dismissing Plimmer and Kerr in quick succession, and she ended with impressive figures amidst a difficult day for Bangladesh. Despite her discipline and ability to extract turn, New Zealand’s middle order proved too experienced, eventually wresting the initiative and building a platform for a defendable total.​
Late Efforts and White Ferns’ Total
After Halliday’s departure, wickets continued to fall, Fahima Khatun and Marufa Akter applying pressure in the death overs. Maddy Green contributed a brisk 25 from 28 balls, ensuring late acceleration that nudged New Zealand’s total past the psychologically important 220 mark. Bangladesh’s fielding was sharp, but the bowling unit faded as Halliday, Devine, and Green exploited gaps and rotated the strike.​
Bangladesh’s Batting Collapse: Kerr, Tahuhu Rip Through Top Order
The chase never took flight. Bangladesh lost six wickets for just 33 runs within the first 14 overs—a barrage orchestrated by Jess Kerr and Lea Tahuhu, who constantly probed with late swing and bounce. Rosemary Mair chipped in with two wickets, and Amelia Kerr ably supported, but it was Kerr and Tahuhu’s relentless discipline that extinguished any hopes of a chase.​
Batters Rubya Haider, Sharmin Akhter, Nigar Sultana, Sobhana Mostary, Sumaiya Akter, and Shoma Akter failed to make significant contributions, and Bangladesh’s top five all fell for less than five runs. By the time Bangladesh slumped to 33/6, the match had lost its competitive edge, leaving only the question of how long resistance would last.​
Fahima Khatun’s Lone Stand
Fahima Khatun provided brief resistance, top-scoring for Bangladesh with a battling 34, and added important partnerships with Rabeya Khan and Nahida Akter. They delayed the inevitable, carrying Bangladesh to 127, but never seriously threatened the White Ferns’ total. The lack of intent, urgency, and application highlighted the significant gap in experience between the two sides.​
Jess Kerr, Tahuhu Deliver Justice
Jess Kerr’s spell (3/21 in eight overs, including a maiden) was the standout bowling performance of the match—a series of well-directed outswingers and disciplined lines. Tahuhu matched her with 3/22 from only six overs, dismantling the Bangladesh order and demoralizing their chase. Rosemary Mair, playing her first match of the tournament, chipped in with two wickets, and Amelia Kerr and Eden Carson rounded off a near-perfect display.​
Bangladesh’s Tournament Struggles: A Tale of Promise and Shortfalls
Bangladesh entered the World Cup on the back of a remarkable qualifying fortune, but their lack of sustained dominance has become a recurring theme. Their lone win over Pakistan was a high point, but heavy defeats to England and New Zealand showcased the team’s challenges in maintaining intensity and building partnerships against top-tier opposition. The inability to capitalize on good starts or stem batting collapses remains their Achilles’ heel.​
Rabeya Khan, speaking after the match, candidly acknowledged the batting failures and the need for accountability: “Batters themselves should answer for Bangladesh’s struggles. The bowlers did their part, but the top-order needs urgent improvement.†Without more consistent contributions and a solution to their fragility against pace and swing, Bangladesh’s campaign risks further disappointment.​
What The Result Means: Group Dynamics & Outlook
With this win, New Zealand climbed one spot to sixth in the standings and revitalized their World Cup challenge. Their next clash against co-hosts Sri Lanka in Colombo promises further opportunity for momentum. Bangladesh remains fifth—again, undone by a quick collapse and lack of batting partnerships—with their own hopes fading as they prepare to face a stronger South Africa side in Visakhapatnam.​
Australia sits comfortably atop the table, while England remains unbeaten, likely to claim the summit with a win in Colombo. For Bangladesh, the tournament now turns from qualification dreams to urgent learning and regrouping.
