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| @Pratika Rawal's reaction after scoring a century vs New Zealand in Womens world cup 2025 |
New Zealand on the other hand were in the fight to survive in the tournament as well. The two parties had the full knowledge of the scale of the confrontation.
India’s Batting Masterclass:
With the invitation to bat first, India started with an outstanding opening partnership which was the beginning of a mammoth total. The two Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal sewed a partnership of 212 runs -the highest in the history of India in the Women World Cup.
Mandhana made 109 off 95 balls with a run-through that was both classy and powerful.
Rawal continued to run 122 off 134 balls, with her maiden century at the World Cup and performing immensely.
Openers were followed by later entry of Jemimah Rodrigues that injected some quick-fire runs into the score - she was not beaten on 76 with 55 balls, but the score was ticking over towards the end.
The Guardian
India announced or finished at 340/3 in 49 overs (through rain adjustments) their greatest overall in a Women world cup.
The atmosphere was established: India was playing without pressure, with purpose and richness, and it never seemed a team that has suffered too much before.
India Bowling Resilience and New Zealand Response:
The pursuit of a revised goal of 325 in 44 overs (because of rain and DLS) was quite a difficult challenge to New Zealand. There were bursts of battle in their innings, but they lacked the steadiness of which they required.
Much was done by Brooke Halliday (81) and Isabella Gaze (65*), who tried their best to make the chase alive.
But bowlers of India were working in a disciplined manner: they limited partnerships, maintained the necessary rate growing in the rear of the batters of New Zealand, and took advantage of the pressure situation. As the match was reduced, the margin of error became smaller to New Zealand - and India took advantage of it.
Eventually, New Zealand had been limited to 271/8 in 44 overs - 53 short by the DLS formula.
Why This Win Mattered:
- Semi-Final Qualification Secured: This win had earned India a fourth and final semi-final spot of the tournament, and it was a win that had seen it join the list of big names and overcome its previous slump.
- Batting Confidence: The centuries by Mandhana and Rawal rediscovered the batting strength and capacity of India to have match winning totals. To a team that was on the pressure, it was as good as the win itself.
- Mental Resilience: The ability to come out of three consecutive losses and perform at the right time was character. Later Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur noted that the team was fully charged up as it was aware of the significance of the match.
- Strategic Advantage: New Zealand was put on the back foot immediately when they posted 340 set a challenging platform. In competitions with low margins, it is critical to seize the initiative - and that is what India did.
Key Moments and Turning Point:
- The first half of Indian innings: It had taken 20 overs but by this point India was well ahead, so that even a late wicket would not bring them down.
- 1st position Rowal-Mandhana: 212 spent in silence not only killed doubts but made the challenge one-sided early.
- The pursuit of New Zealand: Following the sacking of Halliday which was followed by the sustained pressure, the rate of asking got out of hand. India had the psychological advantage once after the required rate had surpassed double digit per over.
- Rain give and take decisions & DLS: Although the DLS system may favour the chasing team, in this case, India had had the biggest total and this put New Zealand in a very difficult position under a shorter match situation.
- The bowling unit: India bowlers also contributed after the batting masterpiece, as they continued to exert pressure and taking crucial wickets at the right time.
Conclusions and Future Moves:
This victory not only secured a semi-final spot to India but it also delivered the message to the rest of the tournament that they could produce big totals and big performances. They will then be ready to the knock-out stage where margin of error will be even less and where pressure is heightened.
In the case of New Zealand the lost match is a crucial point of their campaign. They will also have to reorganize and reconsider themselves particularly in situations where there is pressure as appears to be the case in this case which India was taking advantage of.
In Retrospect:
The story behind this match will be remembered as having two sides: the batting genius of India and an obvious redemption. The headline acts were Mandhana and Rawal maiden ton, a thirty-year career record hundred that was matched by Mandhana, a world record.
However, above the figures, there was a bigger narrative of a team regaining faith. A win such as this one does not merely generate two points but renews faith, momentum and belief. To the fans of cricket, particularly in India, it was like a turning point; a point that the Women in Blue can go big when it is on a big stage.
We can say congratulations. The India women team demonstrated perseverance, flair and coolness at the same time. The semi-final is near at hand--and they are going into it with far more than merely a win in their rear of them; they have recovered swagger.
Brief Scores: india 340/3 in 49 overs (Pratika Rawal 122, Smriti Mandhana 109, Jemimah Rodrigues 76) beat New Zealand 271/8 in 44 overs (Brooke Halliday 81, Isabelle Gaze 65; Renuka Singh Thakur 2/25) by 53 run (DLS method).