T20 World Cup champions 2024 New Zealand (NZ) will have their backs to the wall when they take on a confident and spin-heavy Bangladesh in a crucial ICC Women’s World ODI Cup group match at the ACA Barsapara Stadium, here on Friday. While New Zealand(NZ) are yet to open their account after two successive defeats, Bangladesh will eye a second win from three matches that would consolidate their position in the top-four.
New Zealand(NZ), who were champions in 2000, are staring at an early exit if there is a third straight loss.Bangladesh’s well-rounded spin attack has been their biggest weapon so far and on the slow and dry Guwahati surface has offered turn as the game progresses. They would look to bounce back from their defeat against England here.
After two losses in Indore, New Zealand(NZ) finally get a change of scene and they’ll hope it brings a change in fortune as well. Winless so far in this edition of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, Sophie Devine’s team now face Bangladesh in Guwahati, a team they haven’t lost to in seven matches across formats.
NZ – W vs BAN -W : Previous Performances
New Zealand’s short campaign has been defined by moments that have undercut promising performances. Against Australia, a dreadful start meant Devine’s superb hundred was all about catching up. Against South Africa, they were 195/4 but lost their last seven wickets for 44 runs to be bowled out for 231, a total they never looked like defending.
New Zealand, entered this contest seeking redemption after a disappointing start to their campaign. Against Australia, they had the defending champions reeling at 128/5 before conceding 326 and eventually losing by 89 runs. In their second outing versus South Africa, they posted a respectable 232 but couldn’t defend it, going down by six wickets.
“It probably puts a little bit more pressure on these remaining games, but I think that’s a good thing,” Devine said after the defeat to South Africa, admitting that the side hasn’t managed to play a full game yet. The move from Indore to Guwahati could help; the conditions in eastern India here have offered more assistance to spinners.
Bangladesh began their journey in style. They dismantled Pakistan for 129 and comfortably chased it down with seven wickets in hand. In their next fixture against England, Bangladesh put up a gritty fight — posting 179 on a challenging track and reducing England to 103/6 at one stage. However, a few tight umpiring calls and Heather Knight’s composed knock denied them what could have been a famous win.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, are stationed in Guwahati and will arrive in this contest with confidence and familiarity. They pushed England deep in their last match at this venue, thanks to their spirited bowling and fielding display that made chasing 179 a stretch. Fahima Khatun’s leg-spin (3 for 16) tied England in knots and Marufa Akter once again impressed with the new ball. “How we fought till the last ball was incredible,” captain Nigar Sultana said after the England game, proud of her team’s resilience and growing self-belief.
NZ – W vs BAN – W : Head to Head
Bangladesh – 0 wins
New Zealand – 2 wins
New Zealand and Bangladesh have played against each other four times, all in 2022 where two of these games were rained out without a ball being bowled. Bangladesh mounted a decent fight, but in foreign conditions they were not able to stage an upset, in more spin friendly conditions, Bangladesh will be confident about their chances.
NZ – W vs BAN -W : Pitch and Weather Report
The Barsapara surface promises a fair contest between bat and ball. The average first-innings score hovers around 250, with seamers enjoying initial movement under overcast conditions. However, once the ball softens, batting becomes easier, rewarding stroke-makers. Captains winning the toss often choose to bowl first to exploit early swing before conditions settle.
Guwahati has proven to be a tough batting track so far, with teams having been knocked over for less than 100, once between 100-199 and one score over 200. The dew has made batting a slight bit easier in the second innings with the balls gripping less in the pitch.
A pitch every spin bowler would pack and take it around the world, they have averaged just 19 runs conceded per dismissal and have an economy of just four whereas the faster bowlers have had a tougher time, averaging 31 runs conceded per dismissal and have been more expensive, going at five runs an over.
Spinners have taken 75% of the wickets (33 out of 44 total wickets) in the three matches in Guwahati so far this World Cup.Guwahati’s skies may remain partly cloudy with scattered thunderstorms expected through the afternoon. The temperature will hover around 30°C, with 40% chances of light rain potentially causing short interruptions. Humidity near 84% and gentle winds at 6 kph could assist early swing bowlers.
There is a possibility of a rain-interrupted start. There’s been some rain around in Guwahati but the pitches have been dry underneath, offering the most turn of any venue so far. Amelia Kerr mentioned in the pre-match press conference how she got “quite a bit of turn and bounce in the nets”. Expect more of the same at the centre.
NZ – W vs BAN – W : Big Picture : NZ under the pump to perform in this World Cup
Two matches in, New Zealand are already at risk of playing catch-up in the Women’s World Cup. Two brilliant innings from captain Sophie Devine haven’t been able to save them as they lost to Australia and South Africa. That makes them one of two winless teams in this tournament.
The rust has shown: before losing to Australia and South Africa, they suffered defeats in their warm-up games against India and India A. Apart from Devine, who has contributed 42% of New Zealand’s runs in the tournament so far, the batters have struggled for fluency and the bowling has lacked bite. Against South Africa, they also let themselves down in the field with seven misfields, a reflection of a team that has looked undercooked.
Bangladesh, in contrast, are on the rise. They stunned Pakistan, pushed England hard, and are brimming with belief. Their batting hasn’t quite clicked, but their bowlers have done the job with Marufa Akter consistently striking with the new ball and the spinners keeping a tight leash through the middle overs. With Brooke Halliday the only left-hander in the batting order, New Zealand’s right-hand-heavy line-up could be tested by left-arm spinner Nahida Akter and the legspin duo of Fahima Khatun and Rabeya Khan.
They’ve never beaten New Zealand in ODIs, having lost both their completed games by a big margin in 2022. But with spin expected to play a big role in Guwahati on Friday, Bangladesh will be keen to use the conditions to their advantage. Unlike New Zealand, they have already played a game at this venue in the World Cup.
NZ – W vs BAN -W : Players in the Spotlight : Suzie Bates
New Zealand have missed the runs from Suzie Bates from the top of the order, who will be coming into this match off two consecutive ducks. She struggled to score off her first eight balls against Australia, eventually falling to left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux, while she fell for a golden duck against South Africa to Marizanne Kapp. She will need to find a way to see off a red-hot Marufa, who’s coming off four wickets in two games.
NZ -W vs BAN -W : Vital Stats that matters
- New Zealand fast bowler Lea Tahuhu will be playing her 100th ODI on Friday.
- Marufa Akter has eight wickets in the powerplay this year, the second most by a bowler in women’s ODIs.
- Brooke Halliday is 57 runs away from 1000 ODI runs. She will become the 18th New Zealand batter to the feat.
- Suzie Bates is just 104 runs away from 6000 in ODIs, and will be just the second woman to get there after Mithali Raj (7805). Bates is also joint-second with Smriti Mandhana with the most ODI hundreds, only behind Meg Lanning’s 15.
- Bangladesh have won two games out of nine in the ODI World Cup, and both those came against Pakistan.
- Lea Tahuhu is all set to play her 100th ODI.
NZ -W vs BAN -W : Team News for NZ and BAN
New Zealand :
They don’t have a spinner on the bench, so they could stick to the same side that they fielded against South Africa.New Zealand assistant coach Craig McMillan had said that right-arm quick Rosemary Mair was “close to fitness” before their previous fixture against South Africa. If she’s fit, New Zealand may bring her in for Jess Kerr.
NZ Probable Playing XI : Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine(c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze(w), Jess Kerr, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson, Bree Illing
Bangladesh :
Bangladesh are unlikely to change their combination unless there’s a last-minute injury or illness. Marufa, who bowled only five overs against England and was off the field with cramps, is “fit and ready” for Friday’s game, Nahida said at the press conference.Despite a muscle strain that prevented her from completing her full quota of bowling against England, Marufa is set to feature in this clash and Bangladesh are likely to be unchanged.
BAN Probable Playing XI : Rubya Haider, Sharmin Akhter, Nigar Sultana(w/c), Sobhana Mostary, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Fahima Khatun, Nahida Akter, Rabeya Khan, Marufa Akter, Shanjida Akter Meghla
NZ -W vs BAN -W : Players to watch out for NZ and BAN
Rabeya Khan :
A spark of youthful exuberance in Bangladesh’s lineup, Rabeya Khan has shown maturity far beyond her age. Her unbeaten 43 off 27 balls against England turned out to be one of the most entertaining cameos of the tournament so far — a fearless display of counter-attacking intent against world-class spinners.
What makes her stand out is her dual ability: she can break partnerships with her leg-spin and rescue innings when the chips are down. With 27 wickets in 26 ODIs (best: 3/29) and her recent batting exploits, Rabeya is fast becoming a vital cog in Bangladesh’s evolving setup.
Fahima Khatun :
A seasoned campaigner with the knack of rising to the occasion, Fahima Khatun has been Bangladesh’s go-to bowler in pressure moments. Her 3 for 16 in 10 overs against England was a masterclass in accuracy and composure — tying down batters and forcing errors through sheer persistence.
She brings variety with her flight and pace changes, often unsettling set batters. Beyond her bowling, Fahima’s ability to contribute lower down the order adds balance to the side. In 51 ODIs, she has claimed 39 wickets (best: 5/21) and scored 356 runs, making her one of the most valuable all-rounders in the squad.
Sophie Devine :
Few players in world cricket combine power, experience, and leadership like Sophie Devine. The New Zealand skipper remains the heartbeat of her side — and her back-to-back innings of 112 vs Australia and 85 vs South Africa underline her class and temperament under pressure. A clean striker of the ball, Devine’s ability to switch gears makes her a nightmare for bowlers once set.
Add to that her handy medium pace and sharp fielding, and she becomes the ultimate all-round package. With 4187 runs (HS: 145) and 107 wickets (best: 3/24) from 154 ODIs, she’ll once again be the key to New Zealand’s fortunes in Guwahati.
Lea Tahuhu :
The veteran pacer continues to be New Zealand’s strike weapon with the new ball. Her ability to hit the deck hard and extract seam movement early has troubled even the best batters in world cricket. Tahuhu’s spell of 3/42 against Australia was a reminder of her class, while her disciplined 1/27 against South Africa reinforced her consistency.
Beyond bowling, she brings energy and aggression to the field — often setting the tone with her intensity. With 119 wickets in 99 ODIs (best: 5/37), Tahuhu’s presence gives New Zealand an edge in conditions that might aid early swing.
NZ -W vs BAN -W : Match Prediction
Who will win the toss — New Zealand
Who will win the match — New Zealand
Top Batter (Runs Scored) — Sharmin Akhter (Bangladesh), Sophie Devine (New Zealand)
Top Bowler (Wickets Taken) — Fahima Khatun (Bangladesh), Amelia Kerr (New Zealand)
Most Sixes — Ritu Moni (Bangladesh), Sophie Devine (New Zealand)
Player of the Match — Sophie Devine (New Zealand)
Team Scores Batting First — Bangladesh 160+, New Zealand 190+
For New Zealand, it’s about reviving their campaign before it slips away. For Bangladesh, it’s about proving that their win over Pakistan and fight against England was no one-off.
Also Read: Women’s ODI World Cup 2025: A Plot Twist No One Saw Coming