Autumn's emerging and this brings an end to the season of Sophie Devine excellence. Devine started this summer with an excursion to Perth where she captained Perth Scorchers to their first Women's Big Bash League championship. Then came another Super Smash championship with Wellington Blaze, along with utter Hallyburton-Johnstone Shield dominance. How does one elevate mana? Lead Aotearoa through the World Cup as Devine did.

We all watched it, no need to trek through the mangrove sludge. Devine scored the most White Ferns runs in a home World Cup and there always seemed to be some resistance to Devine's classy mahi. That's the mangrove sludge we don't need to explore and it's also evident in Devine's best knocks in this WC as her 108 vs West Indies and 93 vs South Arica came in niggly losses.

With my Aotearoa goggles on, I believe Devine is the best T20 batter in the world. Perhaps the biggest wahine hitter ever. The century vs West Indies featured a strike-rate of 85, followed by 92sr against South Africa. Only a one six was hit by Devine in these two knocks. Devine also had the knock of 41 against England at Eden Park - far to small for Devine.

Devine's 41 runs came at 85sr and not a single six was hit. All three innings were in tricky conditions, against semi-final calibre opponents. All three came in losses. Devine dragged her team to competitive totals with her Kookaburra blade. Sometimes that meant hearty running for singles and twos, sometimes it meant leaving the field with a back injury only to return and try again ... then having to stand up the whole fielding innings lol.

A different season is emerging to the regular cycle. This World Cup is the first of three women's World Cups in Aotearoa over the next year and a bit. Rugby's tournament is in October this year, then football swings around in July next year (co-hosting with the Aussies). Despite restrictions, the cricket WC has been pretty damn fun and the next two will have far less restrictions. That means more kiwis tapped in as well as the wider communities for women’s rugby and football coming to Aotearoa.

Devine has started the wahine wave with a summer of elevated mana. The joy of this WC has been the variety of folks in attendance and kiwis love sport, especially the chill vibes of observing cricket. That's why plenty of folks are attending games not featuring Aotearoa. Some kid saw Devine waltz back out to bat at Eden Park, or bat through most of the innings on a weeknight. These are the moments that captivate folks and the wahine wave will gain momentum thanks to such moments.

Moments and seasons. This is how Devine's season looks through the stats lens...

Batting

WBBL: 14inns, 442 runs @ 34avg/128.48sr, 1 x 100, 2 x 50.

HBJ Shield: 2inns, 171 runs @ 85.5avg/174.48sr, 1 x 50.

Super Smash: 4inns, 153 runs @ 51avg/145.71sr, 1 x 50.

World Cup: 7inns, 309 runs @ 44.14avg/91.42sr, 1 x 100, 1 x 50.

Bowling

WBBL: 27ov, 10w @ 196avg/7.25rpo.

HBJ Shield: 10ov, 1w @ 46avg/4.6rpo.

Super Smash: 12.1ov, 7w @ 8.71avg/5rpo.

World Cup: 11ov, 1w @ 60avg/5.45rpo.

This year, Devine has played an ODI series vs India and a WC. Three months down in 2022 and it's already her best year since 2018. Devine averaged over 30 in seven consecutive years of ODI cricket, before dipping down to 25avg in 2020. Then dipping down further to 18.25avg in 2021. Devine has scored her 2022 runs at a strike-rate of 93.55 and this is the first year over 72sr since 2018. Devine's century vs West Indies was her first since 2018. Easy examples of elevated mana folks.

Devine did all of the above after what appeared to a rather niggly phase of her sporting career. While home World Cup glory escaped Devine, she won WBBL and Super Smash championships. Devine started this Aotearoa World Cup cycle in legendary fashion, presenting inspiration and learning for all kiwis.

Join the Niche Cache Patreon whanau to support our kiwi sports content straight up, get a karma boost and find extra podcasts.

Every Monday and Friday we fire off an email with bonus content. Sign up here!

Peace and love.