India Storm Into World Cup Semifinals With Dominant Win Over New Zealand
India secured their place in the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup semifinals with a commanding 53-run victory over New Zealand via DLS method at DY Patil Stadium on Thursday. Centuries from openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal powered the hosts to a massive 340/3 before the bowlers completed the comprehensive win.
Key Takeaways
- India qualify as fourth semifinalist with 53-run DLS victory
- Mandhana (109) and Rawal (122) smash record 212-run opening stand
- Rodrigues adds explosive 76* in comeback innings
- New Zealand fall short at 271/8 despite Halliday’s 81
Record-Breaking Opening Partnership
Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal created history with their 212-run opening stand – the highest partnership for India in Women’s ODI World Cups. The duo shattered multiple records during their epic 202-ball partnership, their second double-century stand and seventh century partnership in just 23 WODIs together.
The pair has now amassed 1557 runs in 2025, approaching the legendary Sachin Tendulkar-Sourav Ganguly record of 1635 runs in 1998 for highest partnership aggregate in a calendar year across men’s and women’s ODIs.
Individual Brilliance Shines Through
Pratika Rawal, playing only her 23rd innings, became the joint-fastest to reach 1000 WODI runs while scoring her maiden World Cup century. The 25-year-old Delhi batter showcased her full range of strokes, hitting two sixes after reaching her hundred.
Smriti Mandhana continued her phenomenal year with her 14th WODI century, moving to second place behind only Meg Lanning (15) in the all-time centuries list. With 1259 runs in 2025, she’s the leading run-scorer this year and also tops the World Cup charts with 331 runs.
Jemimah Rodrigues made a spectacular return to the XI, smashing an unbeaten 76 off just 55 balls, including a 39-ball fifty that accelerated India’s innings dramatically.
New Zealand’s Chase Falls Short
Chasing a revised target of 325 in 44 overs due to rain interruption, New Zealand managed 271/8 despite fighting knocks from Brooke Halliday (81) and Isabella Gaze (65*). The pressure of the massive chase proved too much for the White Ferns, who were eliminated from semifinal contention.
India will now play their semifinal at the same DY Patil Stadium venue on October 30, while their final league game against Bangladesh on Sunday becomes inconsequential.
