India enter semifinals after 53-run DLS win over New Zealand in rain-hit ODI World Cup clash

Navi Mumbai, Oct 2025 : Fighting half-centuries from Brooke Halliday and Isabella Gaze went in vain as New Zealand fell short against a dominant Indian side, losing by 53 runs via the DLS Method in a rain-affected Match 24 of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium here on Thursday.

The victory sealed India’s spot in the semifinals, continuing their strong run in the tournament.

After rain interruptions shortened the match, New Zealand were set a revised target of 325 runs in 44 overs, but could only manage 271/8, undone by India’s superior batting and disciplined bowling effort.

Earlier, India’s top order shone brightly with Smriti Mandhana (109 off 95 balls) and Pratika Rawal (122 off 134) scoring sublime centuries and sharing a record-breaking 212-run opening stand, while Jemimah Rodrigues provided a blistering finish with an unbeaten 76 off 55 balls, propelling India to 340/3 in 49 overs.

Rain disruptions and revised targets

Rain first interrupted play after the 48th over of India’s innings, delaying proceedings for nearly an hour due to wet patches on the outfield. The match was reduced to 49 overs per side.
Another spell of drizzle during the 10-minute mid-innings break forced a further reduction to 44 overs a side, with New Zealand’s target revised to 325 under the DLS system.

Chasing a steep total, the White Ferns never quite recovered from early setbacks.

Early breakthroughs derail New Zealand

Indian pacer Kranti Gaud provided an early breakthrough, dismissing Suzie Bates for just 1 in the second over. Bates attempted an expansive drive at a wide delivery, only to offer a catch to Pratika Rawal at backward point.

Georgia Plimmer (30) and Amelia Kerr (45) attempted to rebuild, taking New Zealand past 50 inside the nine-over Powerplay. Plimmer showed intent, hitting consecutive boundaries off Renuka Singh and lofting Sneh Rana for a six over long-on. However, fortune didn’t favour her — after being dropped twice, she was bowled by Renuka for 30 off 25 balls.

The innings took a further blow when skipper Sophie Devine, playing her final World Cup, was bowled by Renuka Singh for just 6. The ball nipped back sharply, beating her defence and rattling the stumps, leaving New Zealand struggling at 59/3.

Kerr and Halliday resist, but India hold firm

Amelia Kerr showed resilience, rotating strike and anchoring the innings even as the required rate climbed. She crossed 40 before miscuing a lofted shot straight to Smriti Mandhana at short midwicket off Sneh Rana, ending her innings on 45 from 53 balls. New Zealand were 115/4 in the 21st over, staring at a steep climb.

At the other end, Brooke Halliday fought valiantly, reaching her fifty off 59 balls. However, India’s spinners — Deepti Sharma, Pratika Rawal, and Shree Charini — maintained tight lines, drying up the boundaries.

The pressure mounted as the DLS equation kept worsening for New Zealand with every wicket that fell.

Late fireworks too little, too late

Wicketkeeper-batter Isabella Gaze injected some momentum, cracking back-to-back boundaries off Kranti Gaud in the 34th over and surviving two close run-out calls — one of them missing by mere millimetres after a direct throw from Jemimah Rodrigues.

She continued her counterattack with successive fours off Deepti Sharma, while Halliday cleared the ropes over deep midwicket to collect 17 runs from the 35th over. Despite the late flourish, New Zealand still required 121 runs off the last nine overs, a near-impossible task.

Halliday’s brave resistance ended when she mistimed an attempted big shot and was caught by Sneh Rana at long-on off Shree Charini. She made 81 off 84 balls, studded with nine boundaries and a six — a fine effort that kept the contest alive briefly.

Gaze reached her maiden ODI fifty in 39 balls and remained unbeaten on 65 off 51 balls (9×4), but her effort was not enough to prevent India from sealing a comfortable win and confirming their semifinal berth.

Summary

India’s dominant batting display set up the victory, with the bowlers complementing the effort through disciplined spells.
For New Zealand, Halliday and Gaze’s fightback provided respectability to the scoreline, but the chase was always uphill after early blows.

Brief Scores:

India: 340/3 in 49 overs (Smriti Mandhana 109, Pratika Rawal 122, Jemimah Rodrigues 76 not out; Suzie Bates 1–40, Rosemary Mair 1–52)
New Zealand (target 325 in 44 overs): 271/8 (Brooke Halliday 81, Isabella Gaze 65 not out, Amelia Kerr 45; Renuka Singh 2–25, Kranti Gaud 2–48)
Result: India won by 53 runs (DLS Method)