New Zealand seamer Molly Penfold has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury, forcing her to miss the upcoming series against Sri Lanka and Australia. The 23-year-old tore the meniscus in her left knee while playing in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield earlier this month. She has since undergone surgery and is expected to recover in up to 12 weeks.
Head coach Ben Sawyer expressed disappointment over Penfold’s injury but remained optimistic about her recovery. “We’re all gutted for Molly. It’s an unfortunate way for her summer to end, especially after her strong performances in the Rose Bowl series. The positive is that she should be fit in time for our winter training schedule,” he said.
Penfold has taken nine wickets in 14 ODIs and seven in 10 T20Is. She delivered her career-best figures of 4 for 42 against Australia at the Basin Reserve last December. Her absence will be a setback for New Zealand’s bowling attack in the upcoming series.
New Zealand will also be without Sophie Devine for the Sri Lanka series as she continues her break from the game. Her availability for the Australia series remains uncertain. The team will play three ODIs and three T20Is against Sri Lanka next month, followed by three T20Is against Australia.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu will leave the Women’s Premier League (WPL) early to join her team for the series. However, Amelia Kerr will remain in India, prioritizing her WPL commitments.
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