India has officially advanced to the Women’s ODI World Cup semifinals after securing a comfortable 53-run victory against New Zealand, determined by the DLS method in a rain-interrupted fixture. The Indian batting lineup delivered a sensational performance, posting a massive 340/3 in 49 overs. Smriti Mandhana (109) and Pratika Rawal (122) led the charge with impressive centuries, while Jemimah Rodrigues added a rapid, unbeaten 76 to the total.
New Zealand’s pursuit of the revised target of 325 in 44 overs proved too steep. Despite commendable half-centuries from Brooke Halliday (81) and Isabella Gaze (65 not out), they were unable to match India’s scoring rate or withstand the tight bowling. Key wickets were taken by Renuka Singh and Kranti Gaud, who both claimed two dismissals, stifling New Zealand’s momentum.
The foundation for India’s victory was laid by the outstanding centuries from Mandhana and Rawal, setting a challenging precedent for the opposition. Rodrigues’ aggressive cameo further demoralized the New Zealand team. The rain delays led to a reduction in overs and a DLS-adjusted target, but India’s comprehensive performance across batting and bowling ensured their convincing win and a coveted spot in the World Cup semifinals.