ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 showcased a captivating showdown as New Zealand Women battled Bangladesh Women in the 11th game of the competition, hosted at the Barsapara Cricket Ground in Guwahati on October 10, 2025. Both squads entered the fray, each looking to secure their initial triumph in the event following underwhelming beginnings. New Zealand, guided by Sophie Devine, an exceptional player despite her team’s challenges, opted to bat first upon winning the coin toss. Bangladesh, with Nigar Sultana as captain, depended on their organized bowling lineup, which had previously troubled formidable teams in the tournament. The initial phase of the match became intense, with Bangladesh achieving early breakthroughs, thus pressuring New Zealand.
Georgia Plimmer stumped off Rabeya Khan as Bangladesh removes New Zealand opener in World Cup 2025
The pivotal moment of the encounter thus far involved the bowling prowess of Bangladesh’s Rabeya Khan, who landed a significant blow by dismissing one of New Zealand’s key opening batters, Georgia Plimmer. Rabeya’s delivery featured a strategically pitched ball outside the off-stump, subtly drifting inward before spinning away just enough to outwit Plimmer.
Attempting an aggressive stroke, Plimmer charged down the pitch but miscalculated the ball’s trajectory and span, proving unable to make contact. The ball nicked the edge and was securely caught by the wicketkeeper Sultana, resulting in an early loss for New Zealand. Plimmer’s innings concluded with a modest score of four runs from 18 balls, continuing her inconsistent World Cup performance. This wicket represented New Zealand’s first setback during the initial powerplay overs, immediately placing strain on their top-order batters.
Here’s the video:
— Blablabla (@Bhaukal_ba1) October 10, 2025
Early wickets put Bangladesh on top against New Zealand
Bangladesh took advantage of the early gains. Rabeya’s bowling yielded two significant wickets for just five runs in 1.2 overs, highlighting her accuracy and impact in the spin-favoring conditions of Guwahati. Following Plimmer’s departure, New Zealand quickly lost two more wickets, including the influential Suzie Bates and Amelia Kerr, resulting in poor starts for the Kiwis’ batting lineup. By the 22nd over, New Zealand was struggling at 77/3, with captain Devine and Brooke Halliday at the crease, attempting to stabilize the innings. Bangladesh’s controlled bowling, supported by sharp fielding, made run-scoring challenging, underscoring their development as a competitive team in women’s cricket.
For Bangladesh, the spin bowling of Rabeya, Fahima Khatun, and Nahida Akter have been crucial throughout the tournament for applying pressure and securing vital wickets. Their recent performance in Guwahati, where spinners have claimed 75% of the wickets, emphasizes how well-suited the conditions are for their bowling approach. New Zealand’s predominantly right-handed batting lineup faces a test against the skill and consistency of Bangladesh’s spin bowlers.
This article was initially featured at WomenCricket.com, part of the Cricket Times group.
