Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal turned on the style in Navi Mumbai, producing batting masterclasses that snapped India’s three-match losing streak and powered them into the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 semi-finals. On a humid Thursday at the Dr DY Patil Stadium, India sealed their spot in the final four with a resounding 53-run win over New Zealand, thanks to a record-breaking batting display.

Asked to bat first on a belter of a surface, India piled up a mammoth 340 for 3 in a rain-trimmed 49 overs—a statement total that screamed intent. Smriti Mandhana (109) and Pratika Rawal (122) made batting look effortless, cashing in on ideal conditions to notch up sublime centuries and set the tone for India’s knockout charge.

Chasing a DLS-adjusted target of 325 in 44 overs, New Zealand’s

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