The recent Women’s ODI World Cup match at Holkar Stadium in Indore, held on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, featured two remarkable centuries. Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner and New Zealand’s Sophie Devine both delivered exceptional batting performances, offering their post-match reflections on an unforgettable game.
While Gardner’s magnificent 115 proved instrumental in securing a victory for the Australian ‘Women in Yellow,’ Devine’s equally tenacious 112, though valiant, could only narrow New Zealand’s loss to an 89-run deficit.
During the post-match presentation, a visibly emotional Sophie Devine, the New Zealand captain, admitted, “It is pretty bittersweet, to be fair. I would throw it all away to ensure we won. What truly makes me proud is the sheer fighting spirit this team displayed. A few years ago, we would have simply capitulated and been dismissed for around 150 runs.”
Moments later, still recovering from her marathon effort on the field, Devine elaborated on her feelings during the press conference.
“Yes, despite today’s defeat, we truly pushed the reigning world champions hard. We managed to make them feel uneasy at various points, which is a rare occurrence,” Devine explained. “In this group, different individuals will step up on different days, and that’s something we constantly discuss. When it’s your moment, you must seize control of the game… you have to be the one to guide this team to victory.”
On the other side, Ashleigh Gardner, who brilliantly navigated Australia’s lower-order to orchestrate a stunning recovery from 128 for five to a commanding total of 326, attributed her fearless approach to the deep batting strength within the Australian squad.
“Our batting truly runs all the way down. We possess that inherent freedom and confidence within our team, knowing that even if we’re five wickets down for not many runs, we have players capable of coming in and completely shifting the momentum of the game.”
“My focus was always on being proactive and choosing positive options. If I were to retreat into my shell, that’s likely when I wouldn’t perform at my best… it was about staying true to my strengths. While the scoreboard certainly told a story, I tried to detach myself from that and concentrate on my game.”
Ultimately, the scoreboard confirmed an Australian triumph and a New Zealand defeat. Nevertheless, both players, through their individual batting masterclasses, undoubtedly earned immense credit and admiration.