India Outplays New Zealand to Reach Semifinals of Women's World Cup

India's clinical performance and impressive team effort helped them defeat New Zealand by 53 runs in the 2025 Women's World Cup, earning a spot in the semifinals. The Indian women's cricket team chased down a massive total of 340 for three in 49 overs, courtesy of a scintillating century by Smriti Mandhana (109 off 95 balls) and Pratika Rawal (122 off 134 balls). Jemimah Rodrigues added 76 not out off 55 balls, as the Indian team dominated the match from start to finish.

Key Takeaways:

Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal's opening partnership of 212 off 202 balls is the highest for India in women's ODIs and the biggest stand for any wicket for India in Women's ODI World Cups.
Mandhana and Rawal have added a staggering 1557 runs as a pair in WODIs in 2025, a number only exceeded by the Sachin Tendulkar-Sourav Ganguly pair - 1635 in 1998, for highest partnership aggregate in a calendar year in ODIs - Men or Women.
Pratika Rawal became the joint-fastest to 1,000 WODI runs in women's ODIs, taking just 23 innings to reach the landmark.
Jemimah Rodrigues smacked a 39-ball fifty and added 76 in just 58 balls for the second wicket with Pratika, as the White Ferns were sent on a leather hunt by the Women-in-Blue.
Smriti Mandhana reached her 14th WODI century off 88 balls with a single, hammering 10 fours and three sixes, showcasing another batting masterclass.
Mandhana is also the leading run-scorer in the World Cup (331 runs), with two half-centuries and a hundred.

Statistics:

Total runs scored by Smriti Mandhana in 2025 - 1259
Total runs scored by Pratika Rawal in 2025 - 1223
Highest opening partnership for India in women's ODIs - 212 off 202 balls by Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal
Number of centuries scored by Pratika Rawal in WODIs this year - 2
Number of sixes hit by Smriti Mandhana in the match - 3

Sources:

[Source 1 - Article titled 'India outplay NZ to reach semis', Times of India]
[Source 2 - Cricket records and statistics]