NZ-W vs ENG-W: Sophie Devine ruled out of fifth T20I due to quad injury

The T20I series between New Zealand Women and England Women has taken another turn, with hosts facing a setback ahead of the fifth and final T20I clash. NZ captain Sophie Devine has been ruled out of the fifth and final match due to a quad injury. Devine sustained the grade one quad strain while bowling during the fourth T20I on Wednesday, which England won to take a 3-1 lead in the five-match T20I series.

The England women's team is currently on a white-ball tour of New Zealand, having already secured the T20I series with one game left to play. England won the first two T20Is convincingly, but the hosts bounced back in the third match, with Devine playing a pivotal role. Her brilliant 60 off 37 balls and figures of 2/23 earned her the Player of the Match award as New Zealand kept the series alive.

Despite Devine's heroics, England hit back in the fourth T20I to seal the series. The New Zealand captain's injury aggravated their woes, with scans revealing the injury will require a short period of rehabilitation. "Devine had sustained a grade one quad strain which would require a short period of rehabilitation," said New Zealand Cricket as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

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'We're disappointed for Sophie' - Ben Sawyer

Devine will remain with the squad in Wellington, the venue for the final T20I on March 29, and undergo a rehabilitation program. Her participation in the upcoming three-match ODI series, starting on April 1, will be determined after assessing her recovery.

Georgia Plimmer, who was with the New Zealand A squad playing a parallel series against England A, has been called up as Devine's replacement for the final T20I. New Zealand Women's head coach Ben Sawyer expressed disappointment at Devine's injury but remained hopeful of her quick recovery for the ODI series.

"We're disappointed for Sophie, but the focus is now to make her available for as much of the ODI series as possible. Sophie will be monitored over the next few days and that will give us a better idea of what her availability is before the first game on Monday," Sawyer said.

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With the T20I series already lost, Kiwis will be keen to have their captain back for the ODI series, which carries ICC Championship points. Despite the setback, the hosts will be looking to bounce back strongly in the final T20I and carry that momentum into the ODI series against the visitors.