New Zealand's hopes of automatic qualification for the 2025 Women's Cricket World Cup took a hit today (October 24) after they lost to India in the first ODI of the three-match series.
The White Ferns were brought back down to earth with a jolt in Ahmedabad following their victory in the T20 World Cup final last Saturday (October 20). Facing India, who they beat in their opening match of that competition, they slumped to a 59-run defeat chasing 228.
Having delivered a strong bowling performance in which Amelia Kerr and Eden Carson starred yet again, taking 4-42 and 3-49 respectively, familiar problems crept in with the bat. Suzie Bates nicked behind to give debutant Saima Thakor her maiden international wicket in her first over of the match, before Georgia Plimmer fell off the penultimate ball of the powerplay to leave New Zealand 40-2. They weren't helped by the run out of captain Sophie Devine, who was caught unawares out of her crease after Deepti Sharma threw a ball Devine had patted back to her to the keeper who subsequently took the bails off.
Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green and Jess Kerr were all dismissed within 10 balls of each other as New Zealand slipped to 132-7, still needing another 104 runs to win with 20 overs remaining. Isabella Gaze and Amelia Kerr gave the side some hope with a steady seventh-wicket partnership, but couldn't prevent a by-then likely defeat.
The result leaves New Zealand with deep problems in the ICC Women's Championship. New Zealand currently sit in sixth place, the last which grants direct qualification for the 2025 Women's Cricket World Cup without having to go through the Qualifier tournament. However, New Zealand only have five more matches to play, two more against India and then three against Australia. With their two toughest series of the cycle their only opportunity to improve their position, they face a possible charge from the West Indies which would push them out of the top six.
The West Indies have three matches against Bangladesh remaining, as well as three against India. Just two wins from those matches would see the West Indies to level with New Zealand's current points tally. The top four teams in the table have already secured qualification, while Pakistan and Sri Lanka have completed their allocated matches for the cycle.
Updated standings: ICC Women's Championship 2022-2025
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Tied | N/R | NRR | Points |
| Australia (Q) | 18 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 2 | +2.002 | 28 |
| England (Q) | 21 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 2 | +1.506 | 28 |
| India (Q) | 13 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 23 | |
| South Africa (Q) | 21 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 1 | +0.350 | 23 |
| Sri Lanka | 24 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 4 | -0.107 | 22 |
| New Zealand | 19 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 18 | |
| Pakistan | 24 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 1 | -0.613 | 17 |
| West Indies | 18 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 2 | -1.121 | 14 |
| Bangladesh | 18 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 4 | -1.178 | 13 |
| Ireland | 18 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 2 | -2.001 | 8 |
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