White Ferns captain returns for T20 World Cup

Sophie Devine is back for the White Ferns.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

After more than a month on the sidelines managing a stress fracture in her foot White Ferns captain Sophie Devine returned to the field just days before New Zealand open their T20 Cricket World Cup campaign.

Devine missed most of the warm up games the White Ferns played during their two week build up to the world cup in South Africa, but after opening the batting in the final warm up game against England on Wednesday she was confident she would be fit to lead the side in the tournament.

However, adding Devine back into the top order was not enough for the White Ferns to end their world cup lead up with a win.

The White Ferns were comfortably beaten by five wickets by England. Sent in to bat New Zealand were restricted to 114-9 from their 20 overs with England chasing down the target in the 14th over.

Devine combined with Bernadine Bezuidenhout for a 33-run first wicket partnership before they were both dismissed in successive balls at the end of the fifth over.

While Suzie Bates top scored with 36.

Devine said it had “been a bit of a process” to make sure she was fit for the White Ferns’ world cup opener against Australia on Sunday, though her foot has feeling “great” after the warm up game.

“I think it probably shows all of the work that has gone in behind the scenes with all the staff to make sure that I can get through, so really pleasing signs heading into the first game.”

Not only was Devine’s fitness a good sign for the White Ferns so was her confidence around the team’s preparation for the tournament.

“I think we’re pretty clear around that starting 11 and what that is going to look like but also how we need to play to make sure that we win consistently in this tournament.”