Defending champion White Ferns out of T20 World Cup after loss to England

Sunday, 28 June 2026

Women’s T20 World Cup, The Oval: New Zealand 163-6 (Melie Kerr 42 from 34 balls, Sophie Devine 30 from 14; Dani Gibson 2-30 from three overs) lost to England 164-1 in 17.2 overs (Danni Wyatt-Hodge 89 not out from 53 balls, Sophia Dunkley 49no from 38) by nine wickets. Click here for full scoreboard.

In fitting fashion, the White Ferns couldn’t grab the opportunity they were offered to extend their defence of their T20 World Cup crown.

A nine-wicket defeat by England on Sunday morning (NZ time) ended New Zealand’s 2026 tournament campaign.

The result also meant the end of the international careers of New Zealand veterans Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu, who all had announced prior to the tournament that it would mark their final appearances for their country.

“They're three of New Zealand's best ever White Ferns, which is pretty special,” NZ captain Melie Kerr said post-match.

“Three amazing cricketers, three amazing people for our environment, and yeah, they will be missed. I've learned so much from them all.”

There were enough bright moments when NZ batted first and made 163-6 at The Oval to hint that the defending champs could make the semifinals. But their bowlers strayed too much in line and length to apply enough pressure as the hosts chased down their target with 2.4 to spare.

New Zealand, who produced two awful fielding performances to lose their first two games at the tournament to the West Indies and Sri Lanka, were given the opportunity to sneak into the last four courtesy of Ireland’s first win in T20 World Cup history.

They shocked the West Indies with a six-wicket win in Bristol overnight, ensuring that a New Zealand victory versus the Group Two table-toppers in London would give the 2024 tournament winners second spot on net run-rate.

The skipper again opened the batting and sought to impose her will on the must-win encounter.

She hit cleanly over the infielders as the White Ferns reached 44-0 at the end of the Power Play and looked poised as a potential match-winner before falling the ball after the dismissal of fellow opener Izzy Gaze, missing an attempted lap shot to be bowled by Dani Gibson and wanting to smash her bat into the turf in frustration.

Three wickets had fallen in four balls when Izzy Sharp inside-edged Gibson onto her stumps for a duck, but Devine slammed back-to-back sixes at the end of the 14th over and added another to the next ball she faced in the following over.

The former captain had raced to 30 from 14 balls before missing an attempted leg-side swipe off Lauren Bell’s bowling, and her dismissal stopped NZ from compiling a big tally on an excellent pitch and a pacy outfield.

There was the inevitable bungled chances in the field early to put pressure on their already-qualified opposition - a missed catch and stumping by wicketkeeper Gaze gave England opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge two lives.

She responded by thumping 15 fours and a six, and in an unbroken 128-run partnership with No.3 Sophia Dunkley (an unbeaten 49 from 38 deliveries) made light work of what could have been a tricky chase to send the White Ferns home and end the careers of two of their all-time greats, and another outstanding performer in pace bowler Tahuhu.

“I think we are the first to recognise it's been a disappointing campaign for us,” Kerr said.

“When I look back to our first two games, catches win matches and unfortunately we couldn't hold on to them.

“Then today we had the opportunity as well to give ourselves a chance to go through to the semis, and we were outplayed tonight. There were moments with the bat, I thought we were great, and then we lost a few wickets quickly. Danni played beautifully, but I think we offered too much width.”