Mandhana’s Record Fifty and Rawal’s Milestone Knock Power India’s World Cup Charge

In a pivotal ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 match at Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on October 23, 2025, India Women seized control against New Zealand Women, thanks to a commanding opening stand by Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal. New Zealand captain Sophie Devine opted to field first after winning the toss, hoping to exploit early conditions, but India’s openers responded with an unbeaten partnership, steering their side to a strong position in this must-win encounter to secure semi-final qualification.

Smriti Mandhana led the charge with a scintillating fifty, scoring 59 off 59 balls, including a flurry of boundaries and a towering six, cementing her place as the player with the most sixes in a calendar year in Women’s ODIs. Her aggressive batting, highlighted by a lofted cover drive and a pulled six off Eden Carson, set an electrifying pace, pushing India’s run rate above six per over. This marked her third consecutive 50-plus score in the tournament, a feat only previously achieved by Harmanpreet Kaur among Indian women in World Cup history.

Pratika Rawal matched Mandhana’s brilliance, scoring 47 off 71 balls and etching her name in the record books as the joint-fastest batter to reach 1,000 Women’s ODI runs in 23 innings, equalling Australia’s Lindsay Reeler. She also set a unique record for the fewest days from debut to the 1,000-run milestone. Their 15th fifty-plus partnership as openers ranks second only to the legendary Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur’s 18, showcasing their growing dominance.

Also Read: Mandhana’s Historic Knock and Rawal’s Debut Brilliance Set 330-Run Challenge for Australia

With India at 153/0 after 25.3 overs, New Zealand’s bowlers, including Rosemary Mair and Jess Kerr, struggled to break through. The hosts’ commanding performance not only bolsters their semi-final prospects but also places immense pressure on New Zealand, whose chances of advancing hinge on a swift bowling recovery. This match underscores India’s batting prowess and sets the stage for a thrilling World Cup showdown.

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