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Harmanpreet Kaur-led India have rolled into the Women's World Cup 2025 semifinal after they bulldozed New Zealand by 53 runs in perform-or-perish match on October 23.
India pulverise New Zealand to make it to Women's World Cup semis
India first rode on Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal's centuries to post a mammoth total of 340/3 in 49 overs. In reply, New Zealand were reduced to 271/8 which ended their campaign at the Women's World Cup 2025.
This marks the fifth occasion that the team has reached this stage of the tournament, having previously done so in the 1997, 2000, 2005, and 2017 editions. As the host nation, India joins an elite group of teams for the knockout stage. India now stand alongside defending champion Australia, four-time champion England, and South Africa in the final four. The semifinal matches are scheduled to begin on October 29 in Guwahati. With six points already secured, the maximum total India can reach is eight. This point tally ensures the Women in Blue will finish in fourth place on the table, meaning they are set to face the table-toppers in the first semifinal match.
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Notably, both New Zealand and Bangladesh teams are currently tied with four points from six games. Should both New Zealand and Sri Lanka win their final group matches, and Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. lose their final match against Bangladesh on Sunday, the three teams would finish with an equal total of eight points.
However, the tie-breaker rules work significantly in India's favor. When teams are level on points, the number of wins takes precedence over net run rate (NRR) as the first deciding factor. India currently has three wins. The maximum number of victories either New Zealand or Sri Lanka can achieve is two. Consequently, even if all three teams end up with eight points, India will finish ahead of both New Zealand and Sri Lanka due to their superior number of wins, ensuring their spot in the final four is safe.
Earlier, openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal powered India to a formidable total of 340/3 in a rain-affected, 49-overs-a-side clash at the DY Patil Stadium. The duo set a massive foundation with a 212-run opening partnership, the highest for India in ODIs, against the White Ferns. While Mandhana took an aggressive route to score her 14th ODI century (109 off 95 balls), Rawal played the anchor role, compiling a superb 122 off 134 balls for her second ODI hundred, and first in a World Cup. Their partnership, which featured contrasting styles on a dry, batting-friendly pitch, marks their seventh century stand and fourth 150-plus stand, equaling a world record.
Mandhana and Rawal Masterclass
Mandhana's innings was a brilliant display of stroke-play, dominated by cuts, drives, and pulls. After a cautious start, she was the first to explode, reaching her fifty off 49 balls. The 29-year-old was eventually saved by the DRS after being given out lbw off Amelia Kerr. She hammered New Zealand captain Sophie Devine for two boundaries in an over and was particularly severe on Amelia Kerr, whom she hit for a four and a six off successive balls in the 29th over. She was eventually dismissed for 109, miscuing a slog-sweep to a substitute fielder.
Conversely, the 25-year-old Rawal dropped anchor, providing an able foil to her aggressive partner. She reached her fifty off 75 balls, hitting seven boundaries. In the process, the Delhi batter equaled a 37-year-old world record by becoming the joint-fastest player to reach 1,000 career ODI runs in just 23 innings. After reaching her century off 122 balls, Rawal accelerated, adding two sixes and sharing a crucial 76-run partnership for the second wicket with Jemimah Rodrigues.
India's much-maligned top order finally delivered, ensuring the huge partnership wasn't wasted. After a slow start where India crawled to 40/0 in the Power-play, the team accelerated consistently, scoring 75 runs in the next 10 overs (11th-20th) and 73 runs in the following 10 (21st-30th). Jemimah Rodrigues, who came into the playing XI in place of Amanjot Kaur, provided the final impetus with a blazing half-century off just 38 balls. The match faced a brief interruption with two overs remaining in the innings due to a sharp spell of rain, which kept the players off the field for over an hour. This passing drizzle resulted in the match being reduced to 49 overs per side, with the mid-innings break also shortened to 10 minutes. New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine used seven bowlers, but the lack of assistance from the surface meant none could consistently trouble the Indian batters.
New Zealand run out of steam in big chase
Following a second rain interruption, New Zealand's target was revised to 325 runs in 44 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. Despite a spirited recovery effort, the White Ferns were ultimately restricted to 271 for eight in their allotted overs, falling short of the mark.Early Strikes by Indian PacersThe Indian pace attack made early inroads, setting a strong tone for the defense. Fast bowlers Kranti Gaud and Renuka Singh got the new ball to move effectively, collectively striking three times within the first 10 overs. Gaud claimed the wicket of opener Suzie Bates, while Renuka was exceptional, knocking over both Georgia Plimmer and New Zealand captain Sophie Devine in quick succession. These early blows saw the White Ferns slump to 59 for three.
New Zealand attempted to rebuild their innings through key contributions from their middle order. Amelia Kerr chipped in with a solid 45 off 53 balls, but it was Brooke Halliday who top-scored with a near run-a-ball 81. Later, Isabella Gaze provided a crucial late flourish, blasting an unbeaten 65 off 51 balls, featuring 10 boundaries, to lead the team's recovery effort and push the final score to 271/8. For India, both new-ball bowlers, Kranti Gaud and Renuka Singh, finished with two wickets each, while Sneh Rana, Shree Charani, Deepti Sharma, and Pratika Rawal each contributed a wicket to ensure the comprehensive victory.
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