Aotearoa's White Ferns were solid against South Africa with good performances scattered throughout the contest and a hearty team vibe on display. Various players chimed in with nifty knocks and/or effective overs with the ball and as I explored in our Friday email kete, the wahine World Cup continues to be a celebration of cricket as folks in attendance amplified the excitement.

Also in that email dispatch, I explored White Ferns confidence and I'll dive a bit deeper into that idea for this yarn. Tomorrow Aotearoa face England at Eden Park which may be at the mercy of Papatuanuku and Ranginui, yet this game still serves as a massive encounter for two teams who need to win. Today we have Australia taking on India and India are on 4 points with Aotearoa, while England are below Aotearoa on 2 points.

Breaking down individual mahi is not important at this juncture. In all three of Aotearoa's losses (West Indies, Australia, South Africa) there have been impressive individual performances, enough to then combine into fairly decent team performances. Aotearoa reached 256 in their chase vs WI which is proving a niggly marker to get to, while their bowling effort against Australia was good enough to have the Aussies 214/5 at the 45 over mark.

Aotearoa then jacked up 198/5 in 40.2ov against SA and then rode the wave of SA's batting innings, enduring mellow patches to snare control with the ball thanks to Aotearoa's best player Amelia Kerr. Hannah Rowe snared a big wicket, Frances Mackay again showed her value with key wickets as well. All of which is to suggest that decent individual mahi came together for periods of really solid cricket from Aotearoa.

At this point we now move from cricket skills and numbers, to vibe. That which is felt, not measured.

In all three losses, the vibe has been icky. Aotearoa were shook in losing to WI, then Ash Gardner snatched the Basin Reserve's soul and thus the White Ferns soul with 18 balls of destruction. The loss to SA was absorbing, enthralling and jJah bless World Cup sport because it was far too hectic for a Thursday night. Aotearoa played their role in a fun contest, also losing in similar fashion to their previous losses.

A score of 300ish was on the cards with Devine and Maddy Green set at the crease. 250ish was the minimum and that would have put Aotearoa ahead given run-chase niggle at this World Cup. Aotearoa wound up all out for 228 and this flowed into the SA batting innings as they were cruising along thanks to Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus. SA were 161/3 in the 36th over before A-Kerr struck to flip the game in favour of Aotearoa.

Aotearoa found ways with bat and ball to lose that game. All three of their losses have seen them either stay competitive throughout the game, or at least be competitive to a point vs Australia. Somehow this team must now swiftly change a deeply rooted losing vibe ahead of a must win game against England at Eden Park.

This presents all involved with a fascinating moment of learning. South Africa's ODI tour of Aotearoa in early 2020 saw the tourists roll Aotearoa 3-0 and this was swept under the rug. Aotearoa have lost all 10 games against Australia since the last World Cup in 2017. Including these World Cup fixtures, Aotearoa is 9-24 in ODI cricket since the start of 2019 and these are not the desirable foundations for winning big World Cup games.

Does this matter?

Will Aotearoa snap their fingers and find a way to win against England?

What is the value of winning games in terms of establishing a lovely team culture?

Can a team generate ruthless winning vibes from nothing?

Since the last World Cup, Aotearoa is 3-8 against England. Two of those wins came after losing the first two games, thus having already lost the series. Last year Aotearoa toured England for five ODIs, winning the third and losing the series (1-4). There is at least the factor of England being in their own woes during this World Cup, yet they have consistently defeated Aotearoa and dominated the kiwis in Aotearoa early last year.

In covering these White Ferns woes under coach Bob Carter, I never thought those woes would be so evident in this World Cup. Years of losing loitered in the air of Aotearoa's three World Cup losses so far and now we hope that such dark arts are vanquished at Eden Park.

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Peace and love.