Women's WC | Mandhana and Rawal script history in Mumbai as India thwart New Zealand to book semis spot

Asked to bat first, Indian openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal got off to a cautious start against the hooping new ball with the first four overs producing just six runs. However, once Pratika Rawal broke the shackles with a couple of boundaries, it was all smooth sailing for the hosts as they cruised to the end of the powerplay at 40/0. Rawal took a particular liking for Lea Tahuhu once the field spread, slamming her for three fours in two overs which set the tone for the next phase of the game. Mandhana meted out similar treatment to the Kerr sisters as the second set of 10 overs brought the team a massive 75 runs, as well as a fifth century stand for the duo this year alone. Rawal was happy to settle into her rhythm once Mandhana got into momentum as the latter brought up a 49-ball fifty while Rawal's milestone came a few overs later, off 75 deliveries. The first big chance for the Kiwis came in the 27th over when Mandhana seemed to be pinned plumb by Amelia Kerr, until a desperate review revealed a faint edge to stop the walking batter in her tracks. Mandhana capitalized by smashing the wrist-spinner for a six and a four in her next over to get into the 90s, before bringing up a 88-ball ton to a rousing ovation. It was only her willingness to explode thereafter that finally brought the White Ferns their maiden breakthrough, albeit the daage had been done with the 212-run stand the highest ever in World Cup history. Rawal soon after brought up her own ton off 122 deliveries and with Jemimah Rodrigues also ticking along nicely at the other end, the foundation was set at 254/1 with 10 overs remaining. Rodrigues went up a notch thereafter with four fours in the next two overs and Rawal tried to follow suit with a couple of sixes but ultimately holed out for 122 off Amelia. Nevertheless, Rodrigues kept motoring along, bringing up a 38-all half-century and then slamming Carson for three fours in the 46th over, while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur struggled to get going at the other end. With just two overs remaining, rain caused a nearly 90-minute interruption, forcing the game to be shortened by an over each for both teams. India managed 11 off their one over remaining thus as Rodrigues finished unbeaten on 76 off 55 to post 340/3 on the board, albeit more rain meant the DLS adjusted target read 325 from 44 overs.

The Kiwis' chase got off to an ominous start as Kranti Goud got rid of Bates with just her third delivery and in an effort similar to their rivals, restricted New Zealand to 11/1 in the first five overs alongside Renuka Singh. Georgia Plimmer finally injected some momentum with a couple of boundaries with the next four overs worth 39, taking the scare to 50/1 at the end of the nine-over powerplay. However, Plimmer departed three balls after the field spread as she chopped on a Renuka delivery, bringing Sophie Devine to the crease. The skipper's stay was short-lived as she also fell victim to a brilliant inducker from the Indian pacer, leaving the team reeling at 59/3 in the 12th over. Amelia combined with Brooke Halliday therafter to put together a counterattacking 56-run stand at run-a-ball but just when the duo were threating to take New Zealand into ascendancy, Sneh Rana scalped Amelia for 45 and put India on the front foot again. Halliday kept playing her shots all the same at the other end, being the major contributor to a quick 39-run stand with Maddy Green, before finding an equally threatening parter in Isabella Gaze. With the ball wet due to the damp outfield, the duo capitalized witha  spree of boundaries and added 72 runs in just 64 balls, bringing up 59 and 39-ball fities in the process respectively. Even so, the required run rate had already soared well past 15 and once Halliday fell for 81 to Shree Charani with six overs to go, the match was practically over. Gaze put up a brave performance neverthelesss as she ended unbeaten on 65 off 51 with 10 boundaries to her name, only enough to take her team within 54 runs of victory as India snapped a three-match losing streak to confirm their spot in the semi-final.

What a win!

Oh!!

Good win!

Nice game!

No idea on this!

Cool batters!

She is brilliant!

Unstoppable!

Queen!

Crazy inns.