The twenty-seventh fixture of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 features an intriguing battle as England Women take on New Zealand Women on October 26th at the ACA-VDCA Stadium, Visakhapatnam. The game gets underway at 11:00 AM Indian Standard Time (IST), and both sides will look to end their group stage journey on a positive note — England to maintain their momentum, and New Zealand to leave the tournament with pride after a spirited campaign.
England entered the World Cup with trademark solidity and have lived up to expectations. Their campaign began with an emphatic 10-wicket win over South Africa after bowling them out for just 69. They then bowled out Bangladesh for 178, chasing the target with four wickets in hand. Against Sri Lanka, Nat Sciver-Brunt’s fluent 117 (off 117 balls) anchored a total of 253 as they clinched an 89-run win. Their clash against Pakistan saw them in early trouble at 133/9 before rain halted play, while a thrilling encounter versus India witnessed a Heather Knight century that guided England to a narrow four-run win. Despite a hiccup against Australia in their last outing, England remains one of the most balanced sides of the tournament.
New Zealand, on the other hand, have displayed immense fight after a fluctuating start. Against Australia, they had the defending champions reeling at 128/5 before being denied by a lower-order counterattack. Their fixture against South Africa was another nail-biter, falling short while defending 231. Momentum began to swing their way with a commanding 100-run win over Bangladesh, but rain-marred matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan hampered rhythm. In their most recent game against India, New Zealand fell 53 runs short of a DLS-adjusted target of 325, a brave chase highlighted by Brooke Halliday’s 81 and Izzy Gaze’s 65*.
Squads:
England Women’s Cricket Team
Nat Sciver-Brunt (C), Em Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Linsey Smith, Danni Wyatt-Hodge
New Zealand Women’s Cricket Team
Sophie Devine (C), Amelia Kerr, Suzie Bates, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Georgia Plimmer, Lea Tahuhu, Jess Kerr, Fran Jonas, Hannah Rowe, Izzy Gaze (WK), Eden Carson, Molly Penfold, Lauren Down
Players to watch out:
Nat Sciver-Brunt
Nat Sciver-Brunt continues to dominate with bat and ball, collecting 4290 runs and 85 wickets in 127 ODIs. Her recent knocks of 117 against Sri Lanka this World Cup, with her team under pressure, underlines her dependable presence. Expect her to steer the middle order and contribute crucially with her seam bowling.
Sophie Ecclestone
With 136 wickets in 80 matches, at an economy rate of 3.69 and an average of 19.51, Ecclestone remains unmatched for control, class and consistency. Her recent 3/24 against Bangladesh and 4/17 vs Sri Lanka showcased her mastery on slow, gripping pitches — a quality likely to thrive in Vizag conditions.
Amelia Kerr
A standout in both departments, Kerr has 2,269 ODI runs and 106 wickets to her name from 83 outings so far. While her tournament returns – 33, 23, 1, 45 with the bat and 2/54, 2/62, 1/23, 0/40, 1/21, 1/69 with the ball, seem modest, she has stepped up with important cameos, but a big outing is awaited. Her presence with bat as well as ball is crucial for New Zealand.
Lea Tahuhu
The experienced seamer has 124 wickets in 102 matches, with best figures of 5/37. She has enjoyed a successful run so far, returning bowling figures of 3/42 vs Australia, 1/27 vs South Africa, 3/22 vs Bangladesh, 2/20 vs Pakistan and 0/37 vs India. Her ability to break partnerships and give crucial breakthroughs changes the game in New Zealand’s favour.
Pitch:
The pitch at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium offers a balanced contest between bat and ball. Early on, pacers can generate bounce and movement, but as the match progresses, spinners come into play with grip and turn. Batting tends to become challenging under lights, making the toss crucial.
Weather:
Visakhapatnam is set for warm, humid conditions, with the mercury hovering around 30°C and humidity at nearly 73%. Winds around 12 km/h may assist early seam movement, while rain is highly unlikely.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight, Alice Capsey, Sophie Ecclestone, Amy Jones, Sarah Glenn, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine, Georgia Plimmer, Jess Kerr, Lea Tahuhu
Match Details:
Date – October 26, 2025
Time – 11:00 AM IST
Venue – Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium, Visakhapatnam
Broadcast – Live on Star Sports Network | Streaming on JioHotstar
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