India Women seal last spot for Semi-finals after winning IND-W vs NZ-W match in Women's Cricket World Cup 2025

Finally, India Women delivered a much-needed victory, as the hosts have qualified for the Semi-finals of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 after beating New Zealand Women by 53 runs (DLS method) at Navi Mumbai on Thursday (October 23). 

It was a must-win game for both teams, especially for the New Zealand Women, to strongly battle for the last remaining spot for the Semi-finals in the tournament. If India Women would win the match, they would confirm the Semi-finals ticket, and if New Zealand Women would win the match, they would have the upper hand for the Semi-finals qualification. 

New Zealand Women sent India Women to bat first, who scored 340/3 in 49 overs. New Zealand had a revised target of 325 runs in 44 overs, while the White Ferns fought hard and managed to score 271/8 in 44 overs.

See Also: Smriti Mandhana records second most Women's ODI centuries during IND-W vs NZ-W in Women's Cricket World Cup 2025

Indian openers had 212-run partnership

Indian openers Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana set a massive 212-run partnership for the first wicket, which was India Women's first-ever 200+ partnership in the Women's Cricket World Cup history. Both the openers scored centuries, as Smriti hit an 88-ball century and Pratika recorded a 122-ball hundred. While Smriti scored 109 off 95 balls (10 fours and four sixes), Pratika scored 122 off 134 balls (13 fours and two sixes).

Later, Jemimah Rodrigues came to bat at no.3 on her return, as she was dropped for the last game, and played a powerful knock of 76 not out from just 55 balls with the help of 11 fours. 

It was a very hard day for the White Ferns bowlers, as they were really expensive. Only Rosemary Mair (1/52), Amelia Kerr (1/69), and Suzie Bates (1/40) managed to pick up any wickets.

India Women bowlers always in control

In reply, New Zealand Women's battle was never enough to chase the mammoth record-breaking target. Also, they lost wickets at regular intervals, as there was hardly any strong momentum for them. While the opener Georgia Plimmer (30) and Amelia Kerr (45) provided a better start after losing the wicket of Suzie Bates (1) in the second over, Brooke Halliday (81) and Isabella Gaze (65*) impressed with their late batting performances.

All six Indian bowlers managed to pick up at least one wicket. The pacers Renuka Singh (2/25) and Kranti Goud (2/48) got two wickets each, while Sneh Rana (1/60), Shree Charani (1/58), Deepti Sharma (1/57), and Pratika Rawal (1/19) picked up one wicket each.