Navi Mumbai: Under grey skies and mounting pressure, the Indian women’s cricket team delivered a thunderous statement of intent — defeating New Zealand by 53 runs (DLS method) at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai to secure the fourth and final semi-final berth at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.

It was a match that carried the weight of expectation. Three defeats had pushed India to the edge, and qualification scenarios hung by a thread. But on Thursday, the women in blue turned it all around with a masterclass in batting, composure, and teamwork.
Mandhana and Rawal lead the charge
Openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal were the architects of India’s revival. Invited to bat first after a brief rain delay, the pair launched an assault that New Zealand couldn’t contain. Their partnership of 212 runs – the highest ever for India in Women’s World Cup history – was a sight to behold.

Mandhana, who had struggled for runs earlier in the tournament, found her rhythm again with a fluent 109 off 95 balls, filled with elegant cover drives and bold strokes square of the wicket. At the other end, Pratika Rawal was all grit and grace, compiling a measured 122 off 134 deliveries.

Together, they built an innings that blended aggression with patience, setting a rock-solid platform for India. By the time Rawal departed, India were cruising past 250, and the tone was set for a massive total.

Jemimah Rodrigues added the finishing touches with a quickfire half-century that kept the momentum flowing. By the close of their innings, India had piled up 340 for 3 in 49 overs, after the match had been reduced by one over due to early rain interruptions.

Rain, DLS, and a composed Indian defence

New Zealand’s chase began under heavy clouds and the shadow of a revised target — 325 in 44 overs — after more rain disrupted play.

The White Ferns started steadily, but India’s disciplined bowling attack kept the scoring in check. Early wickets set the tone, and even as Brooke Halliday and Izzy Gaze fought hard in the middle order, India’s bowlers never lost grip of the contest.

Eventually, New Zealand could only reach 271 for 8 at the end of 44 overs, falling short by 53 runs under the DLS method.

It wasn’t a flashy bowling performance, but it was clinical — built on tight lines, smart field placements, and relentless pressure. The win meant India sealed their place in the semi-finals, joining Australia, South Africa, and England in the knockout stage.

‘We stood up when it mattered most

Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur couldn’t hide her pride after the game.

“It was not easy,” she said. “Credit goes to the entire team for the way we fought today. We knew how important this game was. The team was charged up, and I’m really happy with how we played.”

She reserved special praise for the openers. “Smriti and Pratika took full responsibility. When they crossed 200 together, that’s when we decided to send Jemi up to keep the momentum. The way she batted — that’s what the entire world expects from her.”

On dealing with the home crowd’s pressure, Harmanpreet was refreshingly candid. “Whenever you play at home, expectations are high. But we told ourselves to enjoy this moment rather than let it crush us. The last three games didn’t go our way, but we knew we could change that — and today was the right time.”

Looking ahead, she struck a balanced tone: “We’ve been batting well, but bowling is something we need to tighten up. Hopefully, we can come together and show a better performance in the next game.”

‘A bloody frustrating tournament’

A visibly emotional Sophie Devine, the New Zealand skipper, didn’t hold back in her post-match reflections.

“We’re gutted — not just for ourselves but for our friends and families. It’s been a bloody frustrating tournament,” she said. “The target was just too big. Credit to India — they batted brilliantly. Gaze and Halliday fought well, but 325 in 44 overs was always going to be a mountain.”

Devine acknowledged her side’s struggles with taking wickets at crucial junctures. “We contained them well in the powerplay, but when you don’t break partnerships, opposition batters can go hard. Our fielding was good, though we dropped a few chances. That 200-run stand — it broke the back of the match.”

She also praised the growth of her young players. “The way Gaze and Halliday have developed in the last couple of years is exciting. Brooke’s calmness under pressure is rare. There are positives, but this isn’t the ending we wanted.”

Devine also took a moment to acknowledge Lea Tahuhu, who played her 200th international game. “She’s been monumental for us — a legend of New Zealand cricket. Not the result she’d have wanted, but we’ll celebrate her achievement.”

‘A big relief’

For Smriti Mandhana, who was named Player of the Match, the result was both relief and reward.

“For sure, a big relief. The last three games were tough. We played some good cricket but couldn’t finish. Pratika deserved this as much as I do,” Mandhana said with a smile.

On her batting approach, she revealed a change in mindset after a slow start.
“I like pace more than spin, and today I told myself to just play freely. We were five runs off three overs at one point, and I thought, this isn’t us. After that, I just backed myself and played my game.”

When asked about her partnership with Pratika Rawal, she laughed off the speculation. “We’ve been asked this a lot in the past eight months. We don’t talk much in the middle — we just understand each other. When she’s going strong, I play the anchor. When I’m in rhythm, she rotates strike. It just works.”

India back where they belong

With this victory, India are back among the world’s elite. After the heartbreaks earlier in the tournament, Thursday’s performance showed grit, discipline, and the hunger of a team that believes it belongs on the world stage.

For now, India can breathe easy — they’ve booked their semi-final ticket, and the dream of lifting the World Cup on home soil stays alive.

But as Harmanpreet and her team know all too well, the real battle begins now.