NAVI MUMBAI — In a high-stakes encounter brimming with tension and drama, the Indian women's cricket team secured the final berth in the ICC Women's World Cup semi-finals, eliminating New Zealand and Sri Lanka with a hard-fought 53-run victory (DLS method) over the White Ferns at the DY Patil Stadium on Saturday.
A Do-or-Die Clash for a Semi-Final Spot
The final group stage match was effectively a quarter-final, with the winner advancing to join Australia, South Africa, and England in the final four. India, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka were all locked in a battle for that one remaining spot, with net run rate poised to become the deciding factor. After a delayed start due to rain, the match was reduced to 20 overs per side, amplifying the pressure on every delivery.
Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the crucial toss and elected to bat first, a decision that would set the stage for a rollercoaster innings. The Indian batting lineup, which had shown flashes of brilliance and fragility throughout the tournament, needed to deliver a commanding total to not only win but also protect their net run rate from a potential Sri Lankan challenge.
India's Innings: A Tale of Two Halves
The Indian innings began in disastrous fashion, losing three key wickets within the powerplay and finding themselves reeling at 33 for 3. The New Zealand pace attack, led by the disciplined Lea Tahuhu and the energetic Hannah Rowe, exploited the helpful conditions and had the Indian top order on the back foot.
Just when the hopes of a home crowd were dimming, the experienced duo of Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh staged a spectacular counter-attack. They forged a blistering partnership of 108 runs from just 77 balls, turning the momentum decisively in India's favor. Harmanpreet played a captain's knock, scoring a vital 42-ball 50, while the young Ghosh was explosive, smashing an unbeaten 62 from just 32 deliveries.
Their partnership was characterized by aggressive running and clean hitting, particularly targeting the shorter boundaries. Key moments that shifted the game included:
- Ghosh's fearless sixes off the bowling of Amelia Kerr.
- Harmanpreet's clever use of the sweep shot against the spinners.
- A dramatic acceleration in the final five overs that yielded over 60 runs.
This late surge propelled India to a competitive total of 135 for 6 in their 20 overs, a score that seemed improbable just an hour earlier. Reflecting on the partnership, Player of the Match Richa Ghosh said, "We knew we had to rebuild, but also keep the scoreboard ticking. The plan was simple: back our strengths and target every bad ball. We knew 130-plus would be a good score on this wicket."
The Chase and the DLS Intervention
In response, New Zealand's chase was immediately hampered by the loss of early wickets and a second, more significant rain interruption. At 31 for 1 after 4.5 overs, the players were forced from the field. When they returned, the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method had revised the target to 137 from 20 overs, but, crucially, New Zealand had only 15 overs to achieve it.
This recalculation dramatically increased the required run rate, pushing it to over 9 runs per over. The pressure told immediately upon resumption, as the Indian spinners, led by the ever-reliable Deepti Sharma, tightened the screws. Deepti's magical spell of 3 for 21 in her four overs broke the back of the New Zealand middle order.
Amelia Kerr fought valiantly with a 35-ball 38, but the mounting required rate and regular loss of wickets proved insurmountable. The Indian fielding was sharp, and the bowlers executed their plans with precision, restricting the White Ferns to 103 for 8 in their 15 overs, securing a victory by 53 runs (DLS).
Fallout and Semi-Final Lineup Confirmed
The result had immediate and heartbreaking consequences for two teams. New Zealand, the 2000 World Cup winners, were officially knocked out of the tournament. Simultaneously, in a hotel room in Navi Mumbai, the Sri Lankan team's hopes were extinguished. Had India lost, Sri Lanka would have advanced on net run rate, but the Indian victory sealed their fate as well.
A dejected New Zealand captain, Sophie Devine, summed up the feeling in her camp: "It's a tough pill to swallow. The rain certainly didn't help, but credit to India, their partnership between Harmanpreet and Richa was the difference. We left ourselves with too much to do after the DLS adjustment."
The semi-final lineup is now complete, setting up two blockbuster clashes:
- Semi-Final 1: Australia vs South Africa
- Semi-Final 2: England vs India
A Triumph of Resilience for India
For India, this victory was more than just a passage to the semi-finals; it was a testament to their resilience. After a shaky start to their innings, the team displayed the character and fighting spirit that has come to define their campaign. The bowling unit, which has been consistently impressive, once again delivered under pressure.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur praised her team's never-say-die attitude: "The way we came back after losing early wickets was brilliant. Richa was exceptional, and the bowlers were just outstanding. We knew what was at stake, and we played like it. We are excited for the semi-final; it's a new challenge."
The victory sets up a highly anticipated semi-final rematch of the 2017 and 2022 World Cup finals against England. India will be hoping to draw confidence from this nerve-wracking win as they prepare to face a formidable English side, carrying the hopes of a nation eager to see its women's team lift a world trophy on home soil.