Hosts End Losing Streak with 56-Run DLS Victory
India rose to the occasion in a must-win encounter, defeating New Zealand by 56 runs (DLS method) to claim the final semi-final berth in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. The emphatic win in Navi Mumbai ended India’s run of three consecutive losses and confirmed their place alongside Australia, England, and South Africa in the tournament’s last four.
The result also ended New Zealand’s campaign, as the White Ferns fell short in their chase of a DLS-adjusted target of 325 in 44 overs, after India had earlier piled up a commanding 340/9 in 49 overs in a rain-affected contest.
Mandhana and Rawal Lead India’s Record-Breaking Charge
Asked to bat first, India’s top order produced a near-perfect display. Smriti Mandhana (109) and Pratika Rawal (122) stitched together a mammoth 212-run opening stand, India’s best of the tournament. Their partnership set the tone for a dominant batting performance that left New Zealand chasing shadows.
Mandhana brought up her 14th ODI century with elegant stroke play, mixing precision with aggression. Her dismissal to Suzie Bates after a top-edged pull ended a sublime knock that featured 13 fours and a six.
Rawal, in exceptional form throughout the World Cup, notched her first century of the tournament while also becoming the joint-fastest player to reach 1000 ODI runs in just 23 innings. Her 122-run effort was filled with confidence and control before she was caught in the deep by Hannah Rowe.
Jemimah Rodrigues (76)* then accelerated in the final overs, ensuring India finished strongly with their highest total of the tournament. For New Zealand, Bates, Melie Kerr, and Rosemary Mair managed a wicket each, but the Indian batters remained largely untroubled.
New Zealand Falter Despite Halliday’s Resistance
Chasing a daunting total, New Zealand were rocked early when Suzie Bates fell in the second over. Georgia Plimmer (28) and Melie Kerr (45) briefly steadied the innings, adding 50 runs before India’s bowlers struck back.
Renuka Singh Thakur (2/25) delivered two crucial blows in quick succession, removing both Plimmer and skipper Sophie Devine to leave the visitors wobbling at 59/3. Kerr and Brooke Halliday then tried to rebuild with a 56-run stand, but Sneh Rana broke the partnership at a vital juncture.
Halliday fought hard with a determined 81, finding limited support from Maddy Green (25). However, India’s bowling attack — featuring Thakur, Kranti Gaud (2/48), Sneh Rana, and Pratika Rawal — kept chipping away, never allowing New Zealand to regain momentum.
With the required rate soaring and wickets tumbling, the White Ferns eventually fell well short, finishing their campaign with pride but no playoff hopes.
India’s Semifinal Journey Set in Motion
This victory marked India’s fifth appearance in a Women’s World Cup semifinal, a fitting response after a difficult stretch of form. The team’s balance — powered by explosive batting and disciplined bowling — now looks well-timed ahead of the knockouts.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur hailed the performance as a turning point, noting that “this was the complete game we were waiting for.”
India will now prepare for a semifinal showdown against one of the top-ranked teams, with renewed belief and momentum on their side.