We are just four days away from the much-anticipated 13th edition of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, to be hosted in India and Sri Lanka from 30th September to 2nd November 2025. The participating teams were lining themselves up for the final rehearsal before the World Cup got underway.
Impressive spells from the new-ball bowlers Titas Sadhu and Sayali Satghare reduced New Zealand to 32/3 in the 8th over of the innings, after the White Ferns Sophie Devine won the toss and opted to bat first. Brooke Halliday (22 off 36 balls) joined skipper Sophie Devine (34 off 29 balls) at the crease, and the duo led some sort of a recovery with a much-needed 45-run partnership for the 4th wicket.
The India-A bowlers bounced back again, removing both the set batters in quick succession. Wicket-keeper batter Isabella Gaze joined Maddy Green at the crease, and the duo led the recovery with a much-needed 45-run partnership for the 6th wicket. Sayali Satghare removed Maddy Green (30 off 35 balls) in the 26th over, Bella James soon followed her back to the pavilion in the 31st over of the innings, to reduce the visitors to 146/7, with more than 19 overs left in the bank.
Jess Kerr joined Isabella Gaze at the crease, and the pair led a remarkable lower-order fightback with a spirited 90-run partnership for the 8th wicket, which also took them closer to the 250-run mark. The departure of Jess Kerr (36 off 36 balls) in the 46th over of the innings paved the way for another inspiring 29-run partnership for the 9th wicket between Flora Devonshire and Isabella Gaze. The White Ferns eventually posted a strong total of 273/9 in their quota of 50 overs.
Isabella Gaze stole the limelight with a fighting, unbeaten century (101* off 100 balls), not just bailing her side out of trouble, but also guiding them to a competitive total. Sayali Satghare (9-0-45-3), Saima Thakor (7-0-32-1), and Priya Mishra (5-1-24-1) were the stand-out performers with the ball for India-A, while Prema Rawat (8-0-42-1), Tanuja Kanwer (6-0-34-1), and Titas Sadhu (7-0-40-1) played their part with the ball for their side.
Chasing a target of 274, Shafali Verma, who made her way into the India-A side, gave the home side a flying start, with a 31-run opening stand, scoring at around 10 runs an over. Dinesh Vrinda succumbed to pressure as she departed for an 8-ball duck in the 4th over of the run chase. Skipper Sophie Devine provided the first breakthrough for the White Ferns.
A decent 34-run partnership for the 2nd wicket between Dhara Gujjar (15 off 17 balls) and Shafali Verma, followed by another impressive 51-run stand for the 3rd wicket between Tejal Hasabnis (28 off 43 balls), took India-A past the 100-run mark. Amelia Kerr got the big scalp of Shafali Verma (70 off 49 balls) in the 19th over of the run chase as she was threatening to take the game away from New Zealand in quick succession, providing a crucial 3rd breakthrough for her side.
The home side suffered a mini collapse as they lost their next three wickets for just five runs, bringing the White Ferns firmly back into the contest. Wicket-keeper batter Madiwala Mamatha joined skipper Minnu Mani at the crease, and the duo showed remarkable resilience, settling into their innings. The pair led a fightback and were comfortably cruising towards the target, keeping the required rate under check.
The rains arrived in the 39th over of the run chase, when India-A were cruising at 216/6. The chase was eventually reduced to 40 overs, and the target was revised to 224, which meant the home side just needed 8 runs in 7 deliveries when the play resumed. India-A sealed the game with 4 wickets in hand and three balls to spare. The partnership for the 7th wicket had soared to an unbeaten 105 runs between skipper Minnu Mani (39* off 53 balls) and Madiwala Mamatha (56* off 60 balls).
The Kerr sisters Jess (4-0-15-2) and Amelia (6-0-26-2) were the stand-out performers with the ball for New Zealand, while Maddy Green (5-1-26-0), Bree Illing (8-0-55-1), and skipper Sophie Devine (7-0-54-1) played their part with the ball for their side. A stiff challenge from India-A gave the hint and prepared for things to come for the White Ferns in the 13th edition of the tournament.
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