After three straight losses to South Africa, Australia, and England in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2025, India really needed a win to keep their hopes of making the semi-finals alive. New Zealand also required a victory to stay in the tournament, having gathered only four points from five matches, with two games canceled due to rain. Unfortunately, the White Ferns suffered a tough loss by 53 runs, ending their World Cup run.
India hit NZ team with 53 runs
India controlled every aspect of the game at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The openers, Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana, shone brightly, each scoring a century. Both started slowly, but Mandhana found her rhythm and finished with 109 runs off 95 balls. Rawal took longer to settle, raising concerns about her strike rate. However, she eventually scored 122 runs off 134 balls.
After Mandhana was out, Jemimah Rodrigues stepped up as a pinch hitter, scoring an unbeaten 76 runs off 55 balls. Dropped in the previous match against England, she replaced Amanjot Kaur and moved to the number three spot. Rodrigues took advantage of her chance by playing an aggressive innings, helping India set a record total of 340 runs, their highest-ever in an ODI World Cup.
Rain-Shortened Chase Derails New Zealand as Bates
The chase took a turn when rain interrupted the match, reducing New Zealand’s target to 325 runs in 44 overs. The challenge proved too great, worsened by early losses. Suzie Bates was out for just one run, and captain Sophie Devine managed only six runs. Amelia Kerr showed some promise but struggled with her strike rate, eventually getting out after scoring 45.
Brooke Halliday and Izzy Gaze fought hard, with Halliday scoring 81 runs off 84 balls, while Gaze remained not out on 65 runs.
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