India defeated New Zealand by 53 runs in a rain-affected game to qualify for the semifinals of the Women’s World Cup. India are now within striking distance of the elusive title. They made it to the final in 2005 and 2017 but on both occasions came off second best. Their opponents are yet to be decided.

The real good news for India was the return to form for Smriti Mandhana. After initially struggling in the tournament, Mandhana found her feet with a solid 80 and brilliant 88 against Australia and England respectively. But those knocks went in vain. This time she breached the century mark and helped India win. Mandhana slammed 109 from 95 balls with 10 fours and four sixes. Her opening stand of 212 with Pratika Rawal (122) helped India post 340/3 in 49 overs.

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New Zealand’s revised target was 325 in 44 overs and they managed 271/8. India have one more game vs Bangladesh on October 26 and their opponents for the semis next week are yet to be decided. As things stand, it could be Australia, England or South Africa.

While India are aiming for glory on the collective front, for Mandhana, two world records are beckoning. She has as many as three innings in this tournament to break both of them. The 29-year-old southpaw needs just one hundred to own the record of most international centuries in women’s cricket by herself. As of now she is tied on 17 tons with Meg Lanning. If she hits two more centuries, she will beat Lanning’s record of 15 centuries in women’s ODIs.

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If Mandhana achieves all that and India win the title, it will be the cherry on top. India at one point were struggling to make it to the semis but they now have booked a place in the final four. However, they have been beaten by the other three teams in the league stage of this edition and two of those sides have won a combined haul of 11 titles. New Zealand, the ones India knocked out of the semis race, have won the only other one.

Australia are the favourites and have won all their games and one was rained off. In other words, they have been unbeaten. England and South Africa are strong contenders too. India clearly have a lot on their plate and will have to cross two major hurdles if they are to become the World Champions of women’s cricket. Can it happen? It sure can! Will it happen? We shall know soon enough!