New Zealand’s captain Sophie Devine celebrates her century during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup cricket match between New Zealand and Australia at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore, India, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AP
Women’s World Cup 2025: It was a night of contrasting emotions at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Wednesday (October 1, 2025), where Sophie Devine and Ashleigh Gardner produced stunning centuries, but only one ended up on the winning side.
Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner played a fearless knock of 115, guiding her team from a shaky 128/5 to a commanding total of 326. On the other hand, New Zealand captain Sophie Devine battled hard with a brilliant 112, but her effort wasn’t enough as the White Ferns fell short by 89 runs.
Devine: “I’d throw it all away to win”
Despite her century, Devine admitted the innings felt “bittersweet.”
“I would throw it all away to make sure we won. The thing I am most proud of is the fight this team showed. A couple of years ago, we would have thrown in the towel and been bowled out cheaply. Today we pushed the world champs hard and even made them nervous at times.”
She stressed the importance of different players stepping up at crucial stages:
“When it’s your day, you have to really take control of the game and be the one to get this team over the line.”
Gardner: “We bat all the way down”
Gardner, who steadied Australia’s innings and then unleashed her natural aggression, credited her side’s batting depth for giving her confidence.
“We genuinely bat all the way down. Even if we’re five down for not too many, we know we have players who can turn the game. That freedom lets us play positively.”
Her proactive approach paid off as she counter-attacked when Australia were under pressure, eventually leading them to a winning total.
“If I go into my shell, I won’t bat at my best. It was about sticking to my strengths and not letting the scoreboard dictate my game.”
A tale of two centuries
While the scoreboard showed an Australia win and New Zealand loss, both Gardner and Devine earned admiration for their resilience and stroke-play. For Devine, it was a reminder of New Zealand’s growing fightback spirit, while Gardner’s knock reinforced Australia’s depth and dominance.
Published – October 02, 2025 07:07 am IST
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