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Thursday March 28, 2024

Devine named NZ women captain

By Icc-cricket.com
January 17, 2020

AUCKLAND: Sophie Dev­ine, the hard-hitting all-rounder, has been named captain of the New Zealand women’s ODI and T20I squads ahead of their series against South Africa.

She takes over from Amy Satterthwaite, who is on a break from the game to have her first child.

Devine, 30, has been in a spectacular form in the past few months, topping the Women’s Big Bash League run charts. Her 769 runs in that tournament for Adelaide Strikers came at an average of 76.9 and strike-rate of 130.33.

Her 29 sixes in the edition were the most by any batter, with no one else striking more than 19. She’s carried that touch to the home domestic season with Wellington Blaze, topping the sixes chart as her side have made it to the final of the Super Smash.

The ODI squad for three ICC Women’s Championship matches at home against South Africa, starting on 18 January, includes a return for veteran wicket-keeper batter Rachel Priest and a call-up for Jess Kerr, the sister of leg-spinning prodigy Amelia.

Priest, 34, last played an ODI for New Zealand in the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup, but consistent numbers in T20 leagues around the world saw her return to the national frame and regain a contract last year.