Women’s World Cup 2025, IND vs NZ: Smriti Mandhana and Pratika shine with centuries as India outbat New Zealand.
Brief Scores: India 340/3 (Pratika Rawal 122, Suzie Bates 1/40) beat New Zealand 271/8 (Brooke Halliday 81, Renuka Singh Thakur 2/25) by 53 runs (DLS)
Player of the Match: Smriti Mandhana (109 off 95)
In a do-or-die clash for the final semi-final berth, India Women and New Zealand faced off in a high stakes encounter at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine won the toss and elected to field first, setting up a thrilling contest against the hosts in the ongoing Women’s Cricket World Cup.
With both sides level on points, the stakes could not have been higher- a win here was set to seal a coveted spot in the knockouts. Playing on home soil, India capitalised on familiar conditions and the sublime form of their top order, while New Zealand tried to spoil the party with their bowling attack. The White Ferns ultimately fell short against a dominant India side.
India delivered a commanding batting performance at the DY Patil Stadium, posting 340/3 in their must-win clash against New Zealand before rain halted play and reduced it to 49 overs a side.
Openers Smriti Mandhana (109 off 95) and Pratika Rawal (122 off 134) laid a rock-solid foundation with a superb 212-run stand, during which Mandhana broke the record for most sixes in a calendar year and Rawal crossed 1000 career WODI runs.
Jemimah Rodrigues continued the momentum with a fluent 76 off 55 balls, while Harmanpreeet Kaur contributed 10 and Richa Ghosh struck a boundary in the final over to lift India to a formidable total, asserting their dominance in this high-stakes World Cup contest.
Following the rain delay, the second innings was reduced to 44 overs, leaving New Zealand with a revised target of 325 runs – a steep chase that ultimately tested their composure and batting depth under pressure, as they fell short against a disciplined India bowling attack.
Read More: Women’s World Cup 2025: What India need to do for getting semi-final berth?
Talking Point: Jemimah Rodrigues justifies faith with game-changing knock
After being left out of the playing XI against England to accommodate an extra bowler in Renuka Singh Thakur, Jemimah Rodrigues made a stunning return to the side in the must-win clash against New Zealand and she did so in style.
Promoted to No 3 by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, the 24-year-old repaid the captain’s faith with a brilliant 76 off 55 balls, an innings full of flair, timing and intent. Jemimah seamlessly carried forward the momentum set by the openers, rotating strike efficiently and punishing loose deliveries with precision.
Her fluent stroke play not only kept India’s scoring rate high but also ensured the team never lost momentum after the record opening stand, proving exactly why she remains one of India’s most dependable middle-order batters under pressure.
Read More: Mandhana is having a magical year with 1000+ WODI runs; But why is she losing critical moments?
India bowlers seal the deal with clinical precision
India’s bowlers delivered a disciplined and all-round performance to back up their batting heroics and seal a comprehensive win over New Zealand. Renuka Thakur led the charge with 2/25, removing both Georgia Plimmer and Sophie Devine, maintaining relentless pressure, while Kranti Gaud impressed with 2 for 48, taking an early wicket of Suzie Bates giving India a perfect start.
The spin trio of Sneh Rana (1/60), Deepti Sharma, (1,57) and Shree Charani (1/58) kept the middle overs tight with sharp variations, and even Pratika Rawal chipped in with 1 for 19 to round off a clinical display. Every bowler played their part as India’s attack combined control and aggression to beat New Zealand and secure their spot in the semi-finals.
Read More: Why Harmanpreet Kaur & Amol Muzumdar need to be phased out from India Women’s set up?
Statistical Highlights from IND vs NZ, Women’s World Cup 2025
- Pratika Rawal completed 1000 runs in Women ODIs.
- Smriti Mandhana now has 31 sixes in 2025. That’s the most sixes by a batter in a calendar year in WODIs. Lizelle Lee held the record earlier with 28 sixes in 2017.
- Smriti Mandhana & Pratika Rawal added 212 runs for the opening wicket in this game. This is the fourth-highest stand for this wicket for India in WODIs.
- Pratika Rawal now has 976 runs in 2025. She has gone past Belinda Clark’s tally of 970 runs in 1997. Rawal is now the second leading run-scorer in this calendar year, after Smriti Mandhana (1259).
- Smriti Mandhana now has 14 WODI hundreds, this being the second-most hundreds in this format.
- Smriti Mandhana now has 5 hundreds in WODIs in 2025. That’s the joint-most hundreds in a calendar year in WODIs. Tazmin Brits of South Africa also has 5 hundreds in this format in 2025.
- Jemimah Rodrigues registered her highest individual score (76*) in Women’s World Cup games.
- India registered their highest team score (340-3) in Women’s World Cup history.
Points Table Scenario and What’s Next?
With their convincing win over the New Zealand women’s cricket team, India women’s cricket team have taken a decisive step toward clinching the final semi-final berth at the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. Before the match, both India and New Zealand were level on four points and only the fourth knockout spot remained open. India entered the contest with a superior net run rate (+0.628) over New Zealand (-0.220).
By winning this encounter, India have six points from six matches and ensure their place in the semi-finals regardless of what happens in their final group fixture. New Zealand, on the other hand, have been dealt with a serious blow remaining on four points, their hopes now hinge on winning their final match and relying on India to slip up in their final game against Bangladesh on October 22, Sunday.
Read More: Women’s World Cup 2025, IND vs ENG: India pull defeat from jaws of victory; England go through to SF
