271/8 (44.0)
CR : 6.16
340/3 (49.0)
CR : 6.94
India Women won by 53 runs (DLS METHOD) 🏆
Player of the Match
Smriti Mandhana
109(95)
STAT ATTACK: Isabella Gaze’s unbeaten 65 makes her only the second New Zealand Women’s batter to register a fifty or more from the Number 7 position or lower in World Cup history. The first to achieve this feat was Nicola Browne, who scored an unbeaten 51 against South Africa Women at Bowral back in 2009.
Player of the Match: Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana (Player of the Match): "Big relief in terms of qualifying for the knockouts. Last three games were really tough for us. We played some good cricket but we failed to win those games. Very much relieved today. To be fair, I think Pratika deserves this award as much as I do. I am a little surprised with this.
I like pace more than spin for sure. It was an important game for us and few nerves were there in the first 3-4 overs in order to give your team a good start. I just backed myself and tried to play every ball to it's merit.
Of course, the first three games didn't go my way. Especially the second and third one. After getting a start, I expect myself to convert that into a big score. You need to keep those things behind and focus on the current things. I am feeling good in the nets and that's what matters the most for me.
(Batting with Pratika Rawal) We have been asked this question a lot in the last few months but I don't think either of us can answer this question aptly. I just feel like, we both are very similar in terms of just doing our job for the team. She is a good anchor and that's when I try to play my natural game. We have a good understanding between each other."
I like pace more than spin for sure. It was an important game for us and few nerves were there in the first 3-4 overs in order to give your team a good start. I just backed myself and tried to play every ball to it's merit.
Of course, the first three games didn't go my way. Especially the second and third one. After getting a start, I expect myself to convert that into a big score. You need to keep those things behind and focus on the current things. I am feeling good in the nets and that's what matters the most for me.
(Batting with Pratika Rawal) We have been asked this question a lot in the last few months but I don't think either of us can answer this question aptly. I just feel like, we both are very similar in terms of just doing our job for the team. She is a good anchor and that's when I try to play my natural game. We have a good understanding between each other."
STAT ATTACK: During her superlative knock of 109 off 95 balls earlier in the day, Smriti Mandhana added another jewel to her crown. She now aggregates 5194 runs as an opener in Women's ODIs; the most by any player, surpassing New Zealand's Suzie Bates' 5089.
Most Player of the Match awards in Women’s ODIs:
28 – Stafanie Taylor (West Indies)
20 – Mithali Raj (India)
18 – Smriti Mandhana (India)*
17 – Charlotte Edwards (England)
17 – Ellyse Perry (Australia)
28 – Stafanie Taylor (West Indies)
20 – Mithali Raj (India)
18 – Smriti Mandhana (India)*
17 – Charlotte Edwards (England)
17 – Ellyse Perry (Australia)
Sophie Devine (New Zealand Women Captain): "We are incredibly disappointed and gutted not just for ourselves but also for our families, our friends and also the fans who have supported us. It has been a bloody frustrating tournament to be honest with you. We would've loved more opportunities to play. We would've loved more opportunities to bat. Full credit to India today. The target was just too big for us but the way Gaze & Halliday batted was amazing. I am really proud of them.
(On opting to bowl first) To be honest with you, I thought we were outstanding in the powerplay. We contained them well, we stayed on the stumps. It was an absolute belter of a surface and I think 320-330 was a par score over here. It's difficult when you don't take wickets and opposition teams can really go hard at you. We struggled to pick wickets but I thought our fielding was just outstanding. Yes, we dropped a few catches but our ground fielding was brilliant. Today wasn't our day.
(On Gaze & Halliday) Absolutely. That's something really exciting to be honest with the way those two players are playing. They have just continued to grow in the last 18 to 24 months. That's something I am really excited to see from the sidelines. Their ability to play all around the ground is just incredible. Brooke has been exceptional in this tournament. She has special talent to be honest and her batsmanship is something that is going to be a massive positive for her. Too many positives for us to take but really disappointed to end our tournament like this.
(On Lea Tahuhu) Oh, she has been huge. That was probably not the way she would've liked to play this game. She has been monumental with what she has given to New Zealand cricket. She just keeps putting it out for the side and she was great in this tournament for us. It was not our day today but that's the nature of cricket. We will definitely celebrate her day later on but it's still important to acknowledge her contribution for the country.
(Facing England next game) I have probably said that in the change room. For me it's how we play the game. If we go out there and play the way I know we can, I don't mind if we end up on the losing side. Every time you get to play for New Zealand, it's a huge honour. Yes we can't progress in this tournament but I am really proud of my girls."
(On opting to bowl first) To be honest with you, I thought we were outstanding in the powerplay. We contained them well, we stayed on the stumps. It was an absolute belter of a surface and I think 320-330 was a par score over here. It's difficult when you don't take wickets and opposition teams can really go hard at you. We struggled to pick wickets but I thought our fielding was just outstanding. Yes, we dropped a few catches but our ground fielding was brilliant. Today wasn't our day.
(On Gaze & Halliday) Absolutely. That's something really exciting to be honest with the way those two players are playing. They have just continued to grow in the last 18 to 24 months. That's something I am really excited to see from the sidelines. Their ability to play all around the ground is just incredible. Brooke has been exceptional in this tournament. She has special talent to be honest and her batsmanship is something that is going to be a massive positive for her. Too many positives for us to take but really disappointed to end our tournament like this.
(On Lea Tahuhu) Oh, she has been huge. That was probably not the way she would've liked to play this game. She has been monumental with what she has given to New Zealand cricket. She just keeps putting it out for the side and she was great in this tournament for us. It was not our day today but that's the nature of cricket. We will definitely celebrate her day later on but it's still important to acknowledge her contribution for the country.
(Facing England next game) I have probably said that in the change room. For me it's how we play the game. If we go out there and play the way I know we can, I don't mind if we end up on the losing side. Every time you get to play for New Zealand, it's a huge honour. Yes we can't progress in this tournament but I am really proud of my girls."
Harmanpreet Kaur (India Women Captain): "Definitely, thank you so much. It wasn't easy. Credit goes to the entire team for how we fought. Really happy with how we played.
(On two batters scoring centuries) To be honest, we were getting starts but we were not able to convert. This was the right time to convert. Credit goes to Smriti (Mandhana) and Pratika (Rawal). We got a very good start.
(Decision to promote Jemimah Rodrigues) When they put on 200 runs, we wanted to send Jemimah (Rodrigues). She likes runs from the start. The way she played, that's what the entire world has been expecting from her.
Whenever you play at home, everyone expect from us. We discuss that the crowd is cheering for us. This is the time to enjoy and not to put pressure on ourselves. Trust me, it wasn't easy but everyone in the team stood up. The way everyone lifted everyone else shows what we are.
(Areas to correct in the Bangladesh game) I think we have been doing really well while batting. But bowling, we have to improve. We have one more game to correct that."
(On two batters scoring centuries) To be honest, we were getting starts but we were not able to convert. This was the right time to convert. Credit goes to Smriti (Mandhana) and Pratika (Rawal). We got a very good start.
(Decision to promote Jemimah Rodrigues) When they put on 200 runs, we wanted to send Jemimah (Rodrigues). She likes runs from the start. The way she played, that's what the entire world has been expecting from her.
Whenever you play at home, everyone expect from us. We discuss that the crowd is cheering for us. This is the time to enjoy and not to put pressure on ourselves. Trust me, it wasn't easy but everyone in the team stood up. The way everyone lifted everyone else shows what we are.
(Areas to correct in the Bangladesh game) I think we have been doing really well while batting. But bowling, we have to improve. We have one more game to correct that."
A commendable all-round performance from India as they snap their three-match losing streak with a dominant 53-run win over the White Ferns. With this victory, India join Australia, South Africa, and England in the Semi-Finals of the Cricket World Cup 2025.
Tomorrow, it’s a dead rubber between Sri Lanka and Pakistan as both teams gear up for their final outing of the tournament. We head back to Colombo one last time, but don’t be too surprised if the weather plays spoilsport again.
For now, this is Pritam Dey signing off on behalf of my colleagues Akshay Bhide, Deepak Prakash, Hiren Kumar, Karthik Raj, Asraj Khan, and Aman. It’s been a pleasure bringing you all the updates from this thrilling encounter. Stay tuned for more cricketing action from around the world. BYE BYE👋
Tomorrow, it’s a dead rubber between Sri Lanka and Pakistan as both teams gear up for their final outing of the tournament. We head back to Colombo one last time, but don’t be too surprised if the weather plays spoilsport again.
For now, this is Pritam Dey signing off on behalf of my colleagues Akshay Bhide, Deepak Prakash, Hiren Kumar, Karthik Raj, Asraj Khan, and Aman. It’s been a pleasure bringing you all the updates from this thrilling encounter. Stay tuned for more cricketing action from around the world. BYE BYE👋