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Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal Shine as India Beat New Zealand to Seal Semi-Final Spot
India W vs New Zealand W: Smriti Mandhana scored 109 runs off 95 balls, including 4 sixes and 10 fours. This was Mandhana's 14th ODI century and her 5th this year. Pratika Rawal scored 122 runs off 134 balls, including 13 fours and 2 sixes.
The Indian women's cricket team beat New Zealand by 53 runs via the DLS method in a decisive World Cup encounter at the DY Patil Sports Academy on Thursday. India became the fourth side to reach the semi-finals with the victory. South Africa, England, and Australia are already through.
In the rain-affected match, New Zealand was set a target of 325 runs in 44 overs under the DLS method. Chasing the massive target, New Zealand lost wickets at regular intervals. This affected the run rate, and the team never looked like winning. Due to Brooke Halliday's 81 from 84 balls at number five and wicketkeeper Izzy Gage's 65 not out from 51 balls at number seven, New Zealand scored 271 for 8 in the 44 overs allocated to her, losing by 53 runs. Renuka Singh and Kranti Gaud each picked up two wickets, while Sneh Rana, N Charani, Deepti Sharma, and Patrika Rawal each picked up one wicket.
Earlier, after losing the toss and batting first, India scored 340 for 3 in 49 overs. Due to rain, the Indian innings was reduced to 49 overs instead of 50. Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana gave India a strong start, putting on a 212-run partnership for the first wicket.
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Smriti Mandhana scored 109 runs off 95 balls, including four sixes and 10 fours. This was Mandhana's 14th ODI century and her fifth this year. Pratika Rawal scored 122 runs off 134 balls, including 13 fours and two sixes. Jemimah Rodrigues also scored an unbeaten 76 off 55 balls, including 11 fours.
Four matches remain in the World Cup group stage, with eight teams participating. However, it's likely that India will face Australia in the semi-finals. Australia's final match will be against South Africa. If Australia wins, they will secure first place. England will then face New Zealand, already eliminated from the World Cup final. In such a scenario, even if England and India win their final matches, Harmanpreet Kaur and company will remain in fourth place. In the second semi-final, whether England finish second or South Africa stay in their place, they will face each other.
