New Delhi . In the 24th match of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 against New Zealand, India won by 53 (DLS) runs and booked a ticket to the semi-finals. Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal played important roles in India’s victory by scoring centuries. Pratika scored 122 runs while Mandhana scored 109 runs. After the match, Smriti Mandhana was surprised when she was awarded the Player of the Match award. Mandhana’s impact was more visible than Pratika’s in this innings. The Indian vice-captain played an innings of 109 runs in 95 balls with the help of 10 fours and 4 sixes. Whereas Pratika scored 122 runs in 134 balls with the help of 13 fours and 2 sixes. However, Mandhana said in the post match presentation that she feels that Prateik Rawal is equally deserving of this award.
Smriti Mandhana said after the match, “It’s a big relief to qualify for the knockouts. The last three matches were really tough. We felt we played good cricket, but we didn’t win. Today we feel very relieved. I think Pratika deserves this (award) as much as I do. So, I’m a bit surprised by it. I like fast bowling more than spin. I like dominating fast bowling. But this one.” It was an important match too, I was nervous trying to give a good start in the first 3-4 overs, but I looked at the scoreboard and were at 3 overs and 5 runs, I thought we can’t do that.
That’s all I said, just believe in yourself and try to play ball. The first three matches did not go my way, especially the second and third. After reaching 20, I wanted to play longer innings, but I was getting out. In the World Cup, you have to give a lot in the beginning. You have to understand that if you are feeling good, you have come out in good form. You just have to keep practicing and not complicate things. So, that’s the one thing I kept telling myself.”
Regarding the opening pair with Pratika, Mandhana said, “We have been asked the same question for the last eight months. I don’t think both of us will be able to give the right answer to it. But I think we are both very similar people in terms of work. We don’t talk much. Just in between, we discuss how many runs we have to score and so on. Very similar matches. Of course, she is a good anchor and lets me play my natural game. And once she gets into the rhythm, I can play the role of anchor. This stuff really works. We understand that when a player is in form, we can rotate the strike.”
How was the INDW vs NZW match?
After losing the toss and opting to bat first, Team India scored 340 runs on the board at the loss of 3 wickets in 49 overs in this rain-interrupted match. Pratika Rawal scored 122 runs and Smriti Mandhana scored centuries while playing strong innings of 109 runs. There was a partnership of 212 runs between the two for the first wicket. After this, Jemimah Rodrigues, who came to bat at number 3, scored unbeaten 76 runs and helped the team cross 300. The Indian innings had not even ended when rain hit the field. Team India could not even play the full 50 overs.
New Zealand got the target of 325 runs in 44 overs due to rain interruption, Brooke Halliday (81) and wicketkeeper Isabella Gage (65) definitely scored half-centuries in this run-chase, but both the batsmen failed to lead the team to victory. New Zealand could score only 271 runs at the loss of 8 wickets.
