Mandhana, Rawal masterclass sends India into World Cup 2025 Semis
Navi Mumbai — Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal stole the show at the Dr DY Patil Stadium on Thursday, producing masterful centuries that powered India into the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 semi-finals. Their performance ended a three-match losing streak and handed India a 53-run victory over New Zealand.
India batted first on a batting-friendly surface and posted a commanding 340 for 3 in a rain-reduced 49 overs. Mandhana scored 109 while Rawal smashed 122. Their innings set the tone for a dominant performance, with both players timing their strokes perfectly and punishing loose deliveries.
New Zealand faced a challenging DLS-adjusted target of 325 in 44 overs. Veteran opener Suzie Bates fell early, top-edging Kranti Gaud’s delivery to Rawal for just one run. Georgia Plimmer briefly tried to spark a revival with aggressive shots off Renuka Singh and Sneh Rana, but the momentum quickly swung back to India.
Renuka Singh found her rhythm, claiming Plimmer (30) and Sophie Devine (6) to derail New Zealand’s chase. Brooke Halliday and Amelia Kerr added some resistance, putting on a 56-run partnership. However, Mandhana took a sharp catch to dismiss Kerr (45), ending their hopes of a strong recovery.
Halliday fought on with 81 off 84 balls. She added 72 runs for the sixth wicket with Isabella Gaze (65) before holing out to long-on. Rawal, acting as India’s sixth bowler due to limited options, trapped Maddy Green (18) to seal New Zealand’s innings at 271 for 8 in 44 overs.
India’s innings started slowly. Rawal and Mandhana scored only six runs in the first four overs. Rawal broke the deadlock in the third over, and Mandhana followed after nine balls. Once settled, Rawal attacked Rosemary Mair and edged boundaries off Eden Carson. Mandhana quickly joined the assault with a sweep for four.
The openers accelerated, taking India to 40 without loss in the powerplay. Rawal became the joint-fastest batter to 1,000 ODI runs in 23 innings. Both players brought up a 50-run partnership in 64 balls and then unleashed their full range of strokes. Mandhana reached her third half-century of the tournament off 49 balls and later completed her third World Cup century off 88 balls.
Rawal supported brilliantly, reaching her maiden World Cup century (122 off 134). Their 211-run partnership in 33 overs laid a perfect platform for the middle order. Mandhana eventually fell to Suzie Bates, while Rawal followed shortly after.
Jemimah Rodrigues then took charge, scoring an unbeaten 76 off 55 balls. She forged a 77-run partnership with Rawal and finished the innings strongly.
With this comprehensive win, India secured the final semi-final spot, winning three of six group matches. They will face Bangladesh in their last group match on October 26. New Zealand, already eliminated, will play their final fixture against the same team in Visakhapatnam on the same day.
