Sophie Devine’s farewell World Cup begins as New Zealand defend their crown against West Indies

New Zealand start the defence of their Women’s T20 World Cup crown on Saturday night, and they do it against a West Indies side that has spent a decade trying to get back to where it was in 2016. The two teams open their Group B campaigns under the floodlights at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, with a 6:30pm local start that pushes the finish well past 11pm in India.

The champions arrive in transition

When New Zealand lifted the trophy in the United Arab Emirates in 2024, it was the first time the White Ferns had won a global title after a long run of near misses. Amelia Kerr was the player of that tournament, and she now leads the side as captain. That is the headline change since the last World Cup, and it sits alongside a quieter, more emotional one.

This is a farewell tour for some of New Zealand’s most decorated cricketers. Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu are all stepping away from international cricket after the competition, with Devine playing in her tenth and final T20 World Cup. The squad blends that experience with younger names like Georgia Plimmer and Izzy Gaze, and the question for New Zealand is whether the emotion of sending its veterans off well lifts the group or weighs on it.

West Indies want their old swagger back

West Indies were champions in 2016, and no team in the women’s game carries that kind of memory quite the way they do. Hayley Matthews captains a squad still built around match-winners who can take a game away from the opposition in the space of a few overs. Deandra Dottin and Stafanie Taylor bring the experience, and Matthews herself is one of the most complete all-rounders in the world, capable of opening the batting and bowling her overs at the top.

The form line is less comforting. West Indies came into the tournament off a heavy run of results, and consistency has been the problem rather than talent. On their day they can beat anyone. The trouble has been stringing those days together, and a World Cup group leaves little room to find rhythm late.

What decides it in Southampton

New Zealand have had the better of this fixture in recent times, including a semi-final win over West Indies on their run to the 2024 title, and they will fancy their chances of a settled start before the tougher assignments against hosts England and the rest of the group arrive. For West Indies, the route back into contention runs through the powerplay. If Matthews and Dottin get them off to a fast start, the Rose Bowl is a ground where a big total can feel out of reach quickly.

Both teams know how unforgiving this format is. Group B also features England, Sri Lanka, Ireland and Scotland, and an opening defeat leaves very little margin over the rest of the schedule. New Zealand want to begin their defence like champions. West Indies want to remind everyone why they were once on top of the world. One of those plans gives way on the first night.

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