England Women are set to play New Zealand Women in the 27th match of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.

Led by Nat Sciver-Brunt, England have already confirmed their place in the semifinals. They will face South Africa, who finished second despite losing their last group game to Australia earlier in the day.

For England, this match offers a chance to regain rhythm and confidence before the knockout stage. The team lost its previous match against Australia and will look to bounce back strongly.

New Zealand Out of Contention

New Zealand, on the other hand, are already out of the tournament after losing to India in their last outing. Despite having little at stake, they will look to end their campaign on a high note.

If England win, they will move up to No. 2 in the table. However, this will not change their semifinal fixture, as they are locked in to play South Africa. Still, finishing higher could benefit them if the Guwahati semifinal is affected by rain.

For New Zealand, a loss could drop them to seventh or eighth place, though that is unlikely unless Bangladesh beat India by a huge margin. The White Ferns have endured a tough tournament, with two washouts in Colombo and just one win — against Bangladesh. They lost convincingly to South Africa, India, and Australia.

Farewell for Sophie Devine

This match carries emotional weight for New Zealand. Captain Sophie Devine will play her final ODI, having announced her retirement after this World Cup. The 36-year-old has been one of the pillars of New Zealand cricket for over a decade.

Her teammate Suzie Bates, aged 38, could also be appearing in her last World Cup game, though she has not officially announced her retirement.

England May Rest Key Players

England are expected to use this game to fine-tune their plans before the semifinals. They have fielded the same playing XI throughout most of the tournament, but may rotate a few players to give some rest to regular starters.

The team has shown consistency, winning most of their matches, and will aim to carry that momentum into the knockouts.

Head-to-Head Record

England hold a strong record against New Zealand in women’s ODIs. They have won three of the last four meetings between the two sides.

In total, both teams have faced each other 85 times in ODIs. England lead the rivalry with 46 wins, while New Zealand have claimed 37 victories. One match ended in a tie, and another had no result.

Pitch Report

The pitch in Visakhapatnam has been friendly for batters, though it tends to play slightly slow. Batters will need to spend time at the crease before taking risks.

The surface is known to assist fast bowlers early in the innings with pace and bounce. So far, all four matches played at this venue in the tournament have been won by the chasing team. Therefore, captains are likely to prefer bowling first after winning the toss.

Weather Report

The weather forecast for Sunday afternoon predicts warm and humid conditions, with temperatures reaching around 32°C. There is a small chance of passing showers. Wind speed is expected to be around 18 kmph, with humidity levels between 65–70 percent.

Probable Playing XI's

England Women: Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones (wk), Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Heather Knight, Sophia Dunkley, Emma Lamb, Charlotte Dean, Alice Capsey, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell

New Zealand Women: Georgia Plimmer, Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine (c), Amelia Kerr, Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze (wk), Rosemary Mair, Jess Kerr, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson