The Devine Rescue: Sophie showcases her value at No 4

If you ever seek an example of how the Women's Premier League is narrowing the gap between teams, look no further than a couple of overs in Sophie Devine's match-winning knock of 57* in New Zealand's 2024 T20 World Cup opener against India in Dubai.

Ever since the groups were drawn for the marquee event, New Zealand got down to designing one particular win. They found themselves in a highly competitive pool comprising the reigning champions, a strong title contender, and the most recent Asian champions, and knew well begun when the odds where stacked against them would be a job half done already. So, nothing was left to chance and everything was chalked out down to the last detail. In those strategy meetings skipper Devine, one of the three New Zealanders at the WPL, brought in crucial intel not just for her bowlers but also for India's bowlers.

Asha Sobhana had successfully applied the squeeze after India bled runs and reprieves to the New Zealand openers in the Powerplay. In the first-three of her four-over spell on the bounce, the legspinner had given away only 10 runs and prised out the aggressive opener Georgia Plimmer. At the beginning of her fourth - the 13th of New Zealand's innings - Sobhana tossed one up full outside off and seeing that the mid-off was in the ring, Devine drilled it powerfully right past the bowler. This was New Zealand's first boundary since the PowerPlay, and an aggressive shot first ball forced the legspinner to drag her length back immediately. Devine knew exactly what to expect, and went deep in her crease to club one through the legside this time.

After a dramatic over that saw Amelia Kerr run out, reprieved, and then finally dismissed