COLOMBO
New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine on Saturday expressed her frustration after her aspect’s second washed-out match on the trot within the girls’s World Cup, saying that given the climate forecast, the sport in opposition to Pakistan may have been began earlier within the day.
New Zealand and Pakistan cut up factors after incessant rain compelled abandonment of the competition for the event’s fourth such outcome on the R. Premadasa Stadium right here. It was additionally a second washed-out sport every for each the groups within the competitors.
Whereas the end result saved New Zealand on the fifth spot within the factors desk, making its remaining two matches — in opposition to India and England — do-or-die video games, it additionally pushed South Africa into the semifinal because the second workforce after Australia.
“I hope you have been watching that South Africa sport the opposite evening, the place they have been off for 5 hours and nonetheless managed to squeak in a sport. You have to really feel we have been in an honest place in the present day, simply wanted the rain to carry off, and sadly, it didn’t occur in the present day,” Devine informed the broadcaster after the match.
“It’s extraordinarily irritating. You wait 4 years for a World Cup, and to have rain play such a large half in it, it’s disappointing. I feel, hopefully, in future editions, they could take into account beginning video games earlier within the day.” “We’ve clearly seen right here that the rain normally comes within the afternoon, so there’s an actual alternative to play these matches at 10:00 or 11:00 am and truly get a sport in,” she added.
4 out of the 9 matches performed in Colombo to this point have been washed out by rain.
| Picture Credit score:
AFP
4 out of the 9 matches performed in Colombo to this point have been washed out by rain.
| Picture Credit score:
AFP
Devine stated groups wish to compete in opposition to the very best on this planet and don’t wish to see their matches washed out like this.
“As a result of that’s what — all of the groups wish to play cricket. You’ve waited so lengthy to be right here, you wish to take a look at your self in opposition to the very best, and to be scuppered by rain is an actual disgrace for me,” she stated.
“It’s fairly flat. We actually wished to play in the present day. We have been up and about for this match, and we simply wished to be on the market taking part in cricket,” Devine stated in regards to the New Zealand dressing room.
Nonetheless, the New Zealand skipper stated her workforce is obvious about their process in hand — to win the remaining matches with the intention to be within the hunt for one of many two remaining locations left for the semifinals.
“Now, the state of affairs is extraordinarily clear, we simply must win each video games, beginning with India in Mumbai. It’s an enormous problem, however we’re actually enthusiastic about it. I do know the women don’t want any additional motivation to take them on,” she stated.
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“We’ll head again to India tomorrow and stay up for these challenges. We have been so centered on these video games right here in Colombo, we wished to provide them our full focus. However fortunately, we’ve received just a few days now earlier than the following sport in opposition to India, so we’ll put together very well.” New Zealand will tackle India at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium on Thursday.
“We’ve had some good experiences in opposition to them not too long ago, together with within the World Cup final yr, and we’ll draw on these. However we additionally know they’re enormous favourites, taking part in at residence, in situations that swimsuit them, with threats all through the lineup,” Devine stated.
“However once more, that is what you need, to play in opposition to the very best groups in their very own yard and put your self beneath stress. We’re actually trying ahead to that problem,” she added.
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana, whose workforce is languishing on the backside of the factors desk, stated they’ll look to place their finest foot ahead in remaining two matches.
“As a bowling unit all are blissful, however we have to enhance our batting. We’ve a few matches. We are going to wish to play good cricket within the subsequent few matches, win the following two matches and attempt to finish our event on a excessive be aware,” she stated.
Printed on Oct 18, 2025