bbc-north.co.uk – Daily Features & Must-Read News

Sophie Devine scored a heroic 111 runs in New Zealand's ICC Women's World Cup opener against Australia. Despite her effort, New Zealand fell short chasing 327, highlighting the challenge posed by the defending champions.

Smriti Mandhana, the world's top-ranked ODI batter, enters the 2025 Women's World Cup in peak form, fresh off record-breaking centuries. As India's vice-captain, her phenomenal 2025 stats and elegant yet explosive batting make her pivotal to the nation's quest for a maiden ICC title, poised to rewrite history.