Women’s ODI World Cup 2025: Sawyer banks on New Zealand’s resilience as semifinal race heats up
Breaking free from a string of losses to secure big victories is something New Zealand is no stranger to.
Be it the dramatic turnaround after a 10-match losing streak leading into a successful T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, or bouncing back in the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 after dropping their first two matches, the White Ferns have shown that they know how to fight back.
That attitude is exactly why head coach Ben Sawyer remains confident in his team’s direction. “It’s the way that we have competed. We had Australia there in a really tough spot, and then against South Africa. We have been in positions to win matches,” he said.
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“Bangladesh has proved tricky for a couple of teams now, and we were able to get through that one as well… But going back to the T20 World Cup, it was the same thing,” Sawyer said, adding that the mixture of young and experienced players has helped in combating pressure situations.
The washed-out clash against Sri Lanka didn’t dampen spirits either. “The way that we came out and bowled… we were confident that we could go out and chase that,” Sawyer said. With Pakistan next, his team is ready to carry that belief forward.
Meanwhile, opener Omaima Sohail, who looked in fine touch against England, hopes Pakistan’s batting department will rise to the occasion. “They are a good team. We need to click; our batters need to step up to get a good total,” she said.
Published on Oct 17, 2025
