In a thrilling 6-wicket victory over South Africa at Eden Park, Auckland, on March 20, 2026, former New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine etched her name deeper into White Ferns lore, becoming only the second player after Suzie Bates to reach 3,500 T20I runs. Her unbeaten 55 off 38 balls, featuring 6 boundaries and a maximum, powered a chase of 150 with 8 balls to spare, clinching a 2-1 series lead for Amelia Kerr’s side in the ongoing five-match T20I series.
Awarded Player of the Match for her all-round brilliance, Devine has dominated with 92 runs at an average of 46 across three innings (second-highest scorer) and 6 wickets at 13.16 (leading wicket-taker).
Fresh off her match-winning knock, Devine voiced strong support for New Zealand Cricket’s (NZC) exploration of a domestic franchise T20 league, the NZ20, over sending a team to Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL/WBBL). As NZC weighs these options amid calls for more competitive cricket at home, the T20 World Cup-winning allrounder emphasised building locally. “Where I lean towards is the women’s game here in New Zealand and whatever that looks like,” Devine said. “Whether that is a team in the Big Bash, whether that’s the NZ20, we’ve got to make sure that we’re supporting the women’s game and that they’re playing more games of cricket.”
New Zealand’s Super Smash remains the sole domestic 20-over tournament, but White Ferns stars like Devine, boasting 143 WBBL games, are global draws, often prioritising overseas leagues for skills and earnings, even at the cost of international duties. NZC has balanced player and team needs, but friction simmers: former CEO Scott Weenink resigned in December 2025 over strategic differences, prompting an independent audit of NZ20 versus BBL paths. NZC already holds a stake in the USA’s Major League Cricket.
Sophie Devine, drawing from her worldwide experience, prefers nurturing home talent. “I’ve been really fortunate to have played around the world, different franchises, have played a lot in Australia, and the thing that stands out is how well they’re supported at their home boards,” she noted. “If anything, I probably do lean towards the NZ20.” She envisions excitement in local growth: “I think the opportunity to build something here in New Zealand, hopefully play more games of cricket within New Zealand, is really exciting.”
Yet, uncertainty lingers. NZ20 backers target a men’s edition in January 2027 and women’s by December, but lack NZC approval and private investors. Devine remains pragmatic, prioritising depth. “But at the end of the day, we’ve got to do what’s best for the game in general. But obviously for me, I’ve obviously got a vested interest in the women’s game and making sure that we don’t let that slide. We need to make sure that there’s competitive cricket and enough of it.”
With the T20I series poised for more fireworks before ODIs, from 29th March 2026 to April 4, Devine’s words signal winds of change, urging NZC to ignite a franchise era that elevates the White Ferns and packs local stands.
(Quotes sourced from ESPN Cricinfo)
I am Yash Tailor, and I believe work should be driven by passion. Therefore, after completing my Engineering, I chose to work in the Cricket industry, my passion. My goal is to reach a stage where I truly enjoy what I do and give my best to every task with energy and purpose.