India, led by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, found themselves in a must-win situation after a hat-trick of defeats threatened to derail the campaign in the ongoing edition of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025. A similar case was with New Zealand, led by skipper Sophie Devine, whose campaign was heavily affected due to rain, with as many as two games being washed out in Colombo.
The stakes were as high as they could ever get in a league stage game, especially given the fact, the clash between these highly impressive sides was as good as a virtual quarter-final, fighting for the only available slot in the race for the semi-finals.
India finally seemed to get a step closer to finalising their best starting 11, as the pocket dynamo Jemimah Rodrigues made her way back into the side, at the expense of Amanjot Kaur for the home side. New Zealand retained the same side that took the field in their previous encounter.
Top-order fires India to their highest total in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup
Skipper Sophie Devine decided to challenge her side in the hot and humid conditions in Navi Mumbai, as she won the toss and opted to bowl first. The Indian openers, Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal, assessed the conditions in the powerplay, scoring at a rate of 4 runs an over. The moment spin was introduced in the 7th over; the openers took the proactive approach to get the innings going.
Pratika Rawal became the fastest Indian and the joint fastest (23 innings) to get to the 1,000 runs in the ODI format. As the innings moved on outside the powerplay, Pratika Rawal took the experienced Lea Tahuhu for three boundaries in an over in the 12th over of the innings to get herself into the groove. Both the openers curbed their natural instincts to an extent to take the game deep.
The pair went through the gears and eventually broke multiple records as the partnership soared past the 200-run mark. The pair were inseparable for 33 overs, which prompted the experienced veteran Suzie Bates to roll her arm over. It worked in New Zealand’s favour as she broke the record 212-run stand, the highest for any wicket for India in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup history. A much-needed reprieve for the White Ferns as they saw the back of the Indian vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana (109 off 95 balls) in the 34th over of the innings.
A much-needed promotion for Jemimah Rodrigues at number three proved to be the missing piece in the top-order puzzle for India. As she not only managed to find the gaps with ease, but also manufactured runs with proactive gap-finding, playing the angles in the field and piercing them with precision and at will alongside Pratika Rawal. The duo continued the momentum with an enterprising 76-run stand for the 2nd wicket, which also took India closer to the 300-run mark.
Pratika Rawal also registered her maiden century in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, and her 2nd in the format. An absolute blinder from the substitute fielder, Hannah Rowe, a full-fledged air-borne catch, ended Pratika Rawal’s (122 off 134 balls) stay at the crease. Amelia Kerr provided the crucial 2nd breakthrough for New Zealand.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur stepped in to join Jemimah Rodrigues at the crease. The stylish batter continued to take down the White Ferns bowlers with her blend of classical and unorthodox strokes. She registered her first half-century in the tournament, in her maiden opportunity at number 3 in the ongoing competition. The rains arrived, just as the pair were about to switch to the top gear, in the last couple of overs in the innings.
However, the duo had only one over in the bank on resumption as the game was reduced to 49-overs-per-side. India finished with their highest total (340/3) in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup in their allotted quota of 49 overs. Jemimah Rodrigues 76* (55 balls) stayed unbeaten. Richa Ghosh smashed a boundary in the ball she faced, and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (10 off 11 balls) chipped in with a crucial hand.
Rosemary Mair (8-1-52-1), Suzie Bates (7-0-40-1), and Amelia Kerr (10-0-69-1) were the only wicket-takers with the ball for New Zealand. Jess Kerr (8-1-51-0) was impressive in her spell for her side.
Brooke Halliday and Izzy Gaze fifties ensure White Ferns go down fighting
The rains reappeared for a brief period during the innings break, and New Zealand’s chase was reduced to 44 overs, and the target was revised to 325. The pressure was palpable for the White Ferns, which prompted Suzie Bates to step down the track and make an unsuccessful attempt with a wild slog, leading to her downfall, in search of rhythm, after a quiet opening over from Renuka Singh. Kranti Gaud provided the first breakthrough for India in the first over of her spell.
Amelia Kerr joined Georgia Plimmer at the crease, and the duo led some sort of a recovery with a much-needed 50-run partnership for the 2nd wicket. Georgia Plimmer (30 off 25 balls) was growing in confidence, and in her attempt to switch gears, chopped on off the thick inside edge as Renuka Singh provided the 2nd breakthrough for India in the 10th over of the run chase. She also went on to get the big scalp of the in-form opposition skipper Sophie Devine in the 12th over of the innings.
Brooke Halliday joined Amelia Kerr at the crease, and the pair went through the rebuilding phase en route to their 56-run partnership for the 3rd wicket, which also took them past the 100-run mark. Sneh Rana provided a timely breakthrough by sending Amelia Kerr (45 off 53 balls) back to the pavilion in the 21st over of the run chase.
The likes of Brooke Halliday (81 off 84 balls) kept the run chase alive by stitching a crucial 39-run partnership for the 5th wicket, alongside Maddy Green (18 off 20 balls), followed by another vital 72-run stand for the 6th wicket, alongside Isabella Gaze, taking them closer to the 230-run mark. Shree Charani ended Brooke Halliday’s spirited stay at the crease in the 39th over of the innings, providing a crucial 6th breakthrough for India.
The White Ferns went down fighting with a counterattacking 40-run partnership for the 7th wicket, between Isabella Gaze (65* off 51 balls) and Jess Kerr (18 off 13 balls). New Zealand were eventually restricted to 271/8 in their quota of 44 overs, falling 53 runs short of the target. Renuka Singh (6-0-25-2) and Kranti Gaud (9-0-48-2) picked up a couple of wickets each; every Indian bowler, including the part-time spin of Pratika Rawal (4-0-19-1), was amongst the wickets, rounding off a collective bowling effort.
Smriti Mandhana (109 off 95 balls) was awarded the Player of the Match for her 14th century, and her 3rd in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup. She played a crucial role alongside the likes of Pratika Rawal and Jemimah Rodrigues in setting up a daunting total. That commanding performance from the Women in Blue has sealed the only semi-final spot up for grabs, with a game to go in the league stages.
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