Cricket: India punch ticket to 2025 Women’s World Cup semi-final with victory over New Zealand
India hold firm against White Ferns in Navi Mumbai
After 24 matches at the 2025 Women’s World Cup, we now know the four teams that will be in contention to claim the title this year, after India secured a 53-run victory over New Zealand (DLS method) at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday evening.
The Women in Blue broke their three-match losing streak with a stunning batting performance led by Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana, and will now join Australia, England and South Africa in the semi-finals, which get underway on October 29.
Batting first, India stormed out of the blocks with Rawal and Mandhana producing an incredible first-wicket stand of 212 runs. Mandhana eventually departed for 109 off 95 balls in the 33rd over, while Rawal went on to score 122 from 134 balls and batted almost the entire innings.
Jemimah Rodrigues also produced a crucial knock for the host nation, blasting a quick-fire 76 off 55 deliveries to help her side to a total of 340 runs after their innings was reduced to 49 overs due to a rain delay.
Taking nothing away from India’s performance, which was worthy of winning any match, one has to feel for New Zealand, as they have already had two games in this competition end as a no result on account of rain, and their chase was once again interrupted in this match, with their innings reduced to 44 overs.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s side are now on six points in as many matches, and while they, along with the White Ferns and Sri Lanka, all still have a game in hand, India have qualified because they have won three matches, while the other two teams have one win apiece.
Mandhana smashes records in victory over New Zealand
In addition to the victory, on an individual basis, India’s opener Smriti Mandhana notched up a handful of records, starting with posting the highest any-wicket partnership for India at a World Cup, scoring 212 runs combined with Rawal at the top of the order.
Mandhana's score of 109 was her 14th in ODIs, which puts her second in the all-time list behind Meg Lanning on 15. She also equalled Lanning's record for the most tons in international cricket (17).
Additionally, it was Mandhana’s fifth century of the year, which now puts her level with South Africa’s Tazmin Britz for the most ODI hundreds in a single calendar year!
Notably, Rawal also deserves plenty of credit for her performance, as her 122-run stand saw her become the joint-fastest to reach 1,000 runs in ODI cricket (23 innings), pulling level with the legendary Lindsay Reelers' record set in 1988.
