India sealed their spot in the semi-final of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 with a resounding 53-run victory over New Zealand on Thursday, 23 October, at the Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Having been asked to bat first on a belter of a track, India posted a humongous total of 340/3 in their rain-curtailed innings of 49 overs.
Smriti Mandhana (109) and Pratika Rawal (122) made the most of the favourable batting conditions, slamming brilliant centuries to place India in a commanding position.
Set a DLS revised target of 325 in 44 overs, New Zealand got off to the worst possible start in their chase, losing Suzie Bates (1 off 6) early, who top-edged Kranti Gaud (2/48, 9 overs) into the hands of Pratika Rawal. The early breakthroughs put the brakes on New Zealand’s innings before Georgia Plimmer tried to shift momentum with a flurry of boundaries against Renuka Singh.
Plimmer also took on Sneh Rana, collecting 14 runs from her first over to give early signs of resistance. However, Renuka’s (2/25, 6 overs) change of ends worked wonders as she brought India right back into the contest. She first made Plimmer (30 off 25) chop one back onto her stumps and then bowled the in-form Sophie Devine (6 off 9) through the gate to leave New Zealand reeling.
Women’s World Cup: India vs New Zealand Highlights
Halliday’s lone battle
At 59/3, Brooke Halliday joined Amelia Kerr at the crease, and the duo stitched together a crucial 56-run stand, keeping the scoreboard ticking and taking New Zealand past 100. Just as their partnership began to look threatening, Smriti Mandhana took a sharp catch at short mid-wicket to dismiss Amelia Kerr (45 off 53).
Despite the mounting pressure, Halliday fought a lone battle with a sublime 81 off 84 balls. She added 72 runs off 64 deliveries for the sixth wicket with Isabella Gaze, before holing out to long-on. On a day when India used only five bowling options, Pratika Rawal even rolled her arm over, claiming Maddy Green (18 off 20). New Zealand eventually finished their innings on 271/8 in 44 overs, courtesy of Isabella Gaze’s half century (65 off 51).
Mandhana and Rawal lay the platform
India’s openers took their time settling in as Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana failed to score a run off the bat in the first two overs. Rawal finally got off the mark in the third over with a single — the only scoring shot of that over. At the other end, Mandhana opened her account after nine balls, with India crawling to just six runs from the first four overs.
After the sluggish start, Rawal took charge, taking on Rosemary Mair and smashing her for a couple of boundaries to get the innings going. Mandhana soon found her rhythm with a well-timed sweep shot off Eden Carson for her first boundary. The assault continued as Sophie Devine was cut behind square for four, followed by another exquisite inside-out lofted shot over long-off against Carson.
Another boundary from Rawal helped India finish the powerplay at 40 without loss, and with that four, she also became the joint-fastest batter to reach 1,000 runs in Women’s ODIs, achieving the milestone in just 23 innings. The pair brought up their fifty-run stand off 64 balls, with Rawal tearing into Lea Tahuhu, striking three successive boundaries.
Both openers then began to free their arms, with runs flowing freely through the crisp timing of their strokes. Mandhana brought up her third successive half-century of the tournament off 49 balls, reaching the mark with a boundary off Carson — also completing the seventh century partnership between the duo.
At the other end, Rawal reached her half-century from 75 deliveries, providing solid support to Mandhana, who survived a close LBW shout on 77 after DRS revealed an inside edge onto the pads.
Buoyed by that reprieve, Mandhana accelerated, bringing up her third World Cup century off 88 balls. The Indian vice-captain, who had vowed to bat more responsibly after the loss against England, lived up to her word with a remarkable ton. As both batters showcased their wide range of strokes, their partnership blossomed to 211 runs in 33 overs, giving India the perfect platform.
Mandhana eventually holed out to long-on, with Suzie Bates providing the breakthrough for New Zealand. She departed to rapturous applause as Jemimah Rodrigues was promoted to number three.
Rawal soon followed, but not before reaching her maiden World Cup century (122 off 134) — a defining innings that silenced her critics. Head coach Amol Muzumdar looked visibly delighted, having defended her in the pre-match press conference.
Jemimah roars back to form
With both centurions dismissed, the focus shifted to Jemimah Rodrigues, who had been under scrutiny for her lacklustre form earlier in the tournament. Having trained intensively under Muzumdar’s watch the day before, she appeared determined to make her opportunity count.
Jemimah stitched a 77-run stand with Rawal and later accelerated brilliantly, racing to a 38-ball fifty to give India a strong finish. She remained unbeaten on 76 off 55 balls as India closed their innings at 340/3 in 49 overs, after a rain interruption reduced the game by one over.
Meanwhile, following their commanding win, India secured the last spot remaining in the semi-finals race with three wins from six matches.
– Ends
