England Secure Semifinal Spot with Narrow Win Over India
In a nail-biting finish at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, England held their nerve to defeat India by just four runs in a thrilling ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 encounter. The victory guaranteed England’s place in the semifinals, while India’s defeat leaves their campaign hanging by a thread in a five-way battle for the remaining last-four spot.
Chasing a target of 289 runs, India appeared well in control midway through their innings, but a late collapse saw them restricted to 284-5 in their allotted 50 overs — falling agonizingly short of what would have been a famous win.
Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur Star, But India Fall Short
India’s innings was anchored by Smriti Mandhana’s elegant 88 and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s 70 off 70 balls, as the duo added a vital 125-run partnership for the third wicket.
The home side looked set for victory before Mandhana’s dismissal in the 42nd over shifted momentum dramatically. England’s bowlers — led by Nat Sciver-Brunt (2-47) and Linsey Smith (1-40) — tightened their grip in the closing stages, ensuring India’s chase ran out of steam.
“Smriti’s dismissal was the turning point,” said Kaur after the game. “We had the batting depth to finish, but credit to England — they held their nerves and bowled superbly.”
Heather Knight’s Century Powers England’s Total
Earlier, England captain Heather Knight played one of her finest One Day International innings, smashing 109 runs off 91 balls to steer her team to a strong total of 288-8.
The four-time champions started steadily, with openers Tammy Beaumont (22) and Amy Jones (56) laying the foundation. Knight then combined with Nat Sciver-Brunt (38) for a commanding 113-run partnership for the third wicket.
“I wanted to make a statement performance for my 300th international game,” Knight said. “It felt like we needed around 300 on that pitch, but I’m delighted with how we held on.”
England lost late wickets, slipping from 257-3 to 288-8, as India’s Deepti Sharma starred with 4-51 in 10 overs.
How India’s Chase Unraveled
India began their pursuit cautiously after losing early wickets — Pratika Rawal fell for six and Harleen Deol for 24. With the score at 42-2, Mandhana and Kaur built India’s chase patiently.
Kaur reached her fifty in 54 balls, while Mandhana, content playing the anchor, completed her second consecutive half-century. When Kaur fell to Sciver-Brunt, India were still favorites to win.
Deepti Sharma then struck a fluent 50 off 57 balls, sharing a 67-run stand with Mandhana. However, the dismissal of Mandhana in the 42nd over triggered India’s downfall — from 234-3 to 262-6 in just 33 balls.
Despite a late push from Amanjot Kaur (18)* and *Sneh Rana (10)**, India failed to chase down the total, leaving their semifinal hopes dependent on upcoming matches against New Zealand and Bangladesh.
England March to Semifinals, India Face Must-Win Games
The win propelled England into the semifinals alongside Australia and South Africa, giving them four victories from five games. The English side next faces Australia in a high-stakes encounter on Wednesday.
For India, it was their third consecutive defeat — following losses to Australia and South Africa — and a blow to their campaign. They now sit fourth on the table with four points and must win their remaining two games convincingly to stay in contention.
Match Summary
| Teams | Result |
|---|---|
| England Women | 288/8 (50 overs) |
| India Women | 284/5 (50 overs) |
| England won by | 4 runs |
| Player of the Match | Heather Knight (ENG) – 109 (91) |
| Top Indian Batter | Smriti Mandhana – 88 (95) |
| Best Bowler (India) | Deepti Sharma – 4/51 |
Key Highlights
- Heather Knight scored her third ODI century, guiding England to a competitive total.
- Smriti Mandhana (88) and Harmanpreet Kaur (70) gave India a solid platform.
- Linsey Smith’s dismissal of Mandhana turned the game in England’s favor.
- Deepti Sharma shone with both bat and ball (50 runs, 4 wickets).
- England became the third team to qualify for the semifinals, joining Australia and South Africa.
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