Devine thinking as New Zealand make last ditch T20WC run
New Zealand stalwart Sophie Devine insists White Ferns are their harshest critics as they fight to keep T20 World Cup defence hopes alive, while Ireland again target an upset win.
By Daniel Beswick in Southampton
One team is the defending champions, the other is looking for their first win in tournament history in their 20 attempts.
Though the ICC Women's T20 World Cup has proved to be a leveller, underlined by the most important stat there is: New Zealand and Ireland are locked level on zero points ahead of a crucial Friday night fixture at the Hampshire Bowl.
West Indies down New Zealand in a final-over thriller | Match Highlights | Women's T20WC 2026
Looking up at the other teams in Group B, something has to give in Southampton in just the fifth women’s T20I meeting between the two sides.
A win would keeps semi-final hopes alive, a defeat means a campaign is all but over. For White Ferns stalwart Sophie Devine, in the middle of her final campaign, the equation is simple.
“It almost makes it easier, as you know exactly what you have to do,” Devine said at the pre-match press conference ahead of the team’s must-win encounter.
“It's about winning every single game. And it starts with that game against the Irish tomorrow.
“We've put ourselves into this position and it's basically as simple as it is."
Devine knocks one out of the ground | Women's T20WC 2026
Sophie Devine stepped out and sent it towards the fence during her brisk knock against Sri Lanka at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026.
The side have been far from their best by their own admission at the tournament, particularly in the field.
A host of chances were squandered in the defeat to the West Indies, with the second loss at the hands of Sri Lanka also partially down to missed opportunities as Sri Lanka chased down 151.
Sri Lanka break new ground at Southampton | Match Highlights | Women's T20WC 2026
A result to remember as Sri Lanka secure a first win over New Zealand at ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
A number of White Ferns squad members stayed back for extra fielding work late into Thursday evening at the Hampshire Bowl, eager to iron things out in what is likely the side's last-ditch effort for a spot in the final four.
And as Devine explains, the most important analysis has come from inside the four walls of the Kiwi camp.
“We've probably copped a fair bit of criticism, which is fair enough to wear as a professional outfit, and we hold ourselves to really high standards. We're our biggest critics and we know that.
"People are entitled to their opinions and things, but it's what is within this group that’s really important.
“We’ve just got to have some real pride and show some real character about stepping up and performing and putting together a complete performance. Because we've been close. It's just obviously in the field."
ALL THE BROADCAST DETAILS FOR WOMEN'S T20 WORLD CUP 2026
On the other side, Ireland are again eyeing off a shock, having asked England several questions in their match at the same venue on Tuesday.
Gaby Lewis’ side had the hosts at 35/3 in a chase of 119, only falling in the 18th over with the opposition tail crawling to the target.
The performance has encouraged the group to back up and go again in a bid to break the team’s drought and upset their more-fancied opposition.
“You come to play England, who are one of the best sides in the world, and I think we've shown that we can compete,” Ireland coach Lloyd Tennant said.
“I think we set new standards for ourselves (in the defeat to England), and so if we can keep that momentum and play like that again, then we've got a chance of getting that first win on the board.”
“We came here trying to get off the mark to win the game in the World Cup. If we could win one early enough, we would have changed our goals to see how far we could get and how much pressure we could put on teams.
“If we can maintain that standard (from the fielding performance against England) in our next three games, I think we're moving forwards.”
England get the job done the hard way | Match Highlights | Women's T20WC 2026
England keep the momentum rolling as they register the second win of their ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign by defeating Ireland by 4 wickets.
Friday's match will be the first Women's T20I between the teams in almost eight years, with the pair crossing paths last at T20 World Cup 2018 in the Caribbean.
Devine was Player of the Match in the Guyana encounter, making 51 (22) and taking 1/4 with the ball in three overs, with the White Ferns coasting to an eight wicket win, chasing down 79 in just 7.3 overs.
The all-rounder doesn’t remember too much of the occasion (nor much about last week, also by her admission), though has seen the improvement of the Ireland unit, and is under no illusions of the opposition's quality in 2026.
"I think the great thing is I see so much more content out there now (in 2026), and there's so much more footage that we can be able to track some of the players.
"I've been so impressed with the way that they've gone about things. I think now, obviously Orla Prendergast is an outstanding player. Gaby Lewis as well as Amy Hunter, those (are) players that are really starting to stand up and, a number of them are playing sort of through the English domestic setup and get picked up a little bit more in some of these other franchise competitions.
"We're certainly aware that they've got a lot of threats throughout with both bat and ball so that we're going to have to really stump up and make sure that we play a complete game of cricket, not just two thirds or 80 per cent of one."
"I think back to when I did first play, 2009, it was probably only three or four times they had a realistic chance. And we've seen in this tournament, anyone can beat anyone on their day.
In team news, Aimee Maguire could be joined by sister Jane in Ireland's playing XI, with the latter coming in as an injury replacement for Ava Canning, who leaves the squad with a back injury.
The White Ferns to this point have played the same team in their two fixtures, though have the experience of Lea Tahuhu and Suzie Bates to potentially call upon.
Tahuhu, Bates and Devine are set to bow out of international cricket at the end of the tournament.