Birthday special: Sophie Devine – Top 3 performances in international cricket

Sophie Devine is one of New Zealand’s most versatile sportspersons. Apart from having proved her mettle in cricket, she has also been an eminent member of the New Zealand women’s national field hockey team. Devine has been leading the White Ferns for a while exceptionally well from the front and has managed to establish the Kiwis as one of the best sides in women’s cricket. As she turns 34 on September 1, here’s a look at three of her best international performances.

3) 103 vs Pakistan, 2017

This happens to be one of Sophie Devine’s impactful performances. Prior to this knock, Devine’s last ODI century way back in 2013 and the long wait of over four years eventually turned out to be fruitful as she scored 103 runs off 119 in what was a match-winning knock as the New Zealanders came out on top by eight runs.

2) 75* and a wicket against Sri Lanka, 2020

New Zealand locked horns with Sri Lanka in the group fixture of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 at the W.A.C.A. Ground in Perth. Bowling first, the White Ferns restricted the Lankans to a paltry 127/7 and the New Zealand captain successfully anchored her team’s chase with an unbeaten 75 runs off 55 deliveries at an outstanding strike rate of 136.36. Her knock included six fours and two sixes. The Kiwis went on to register a comfortable seven-wicket win.

1) 105 vs South Africa, 2020

Arguably Devine’s best individual performance with the bat as she went on to register her maiden T20I century when South Africa Women had visited New Zealand for a bilateral series in 2020. Devine scored a quickfire 105 runs off 65 deliveries in the fourth of the five-match T20I series. Her whirlwind knock included 12 fours and three maximums, which led his team to a comprehensive 69-run victory.