Indore: England secured their place in the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 after surviving a thrilling final against India at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday. The match went down to the wire and India fell just four runs short of perhaps the most successful run-chase of all time in One Day Internationals.
England captain Heather Knight led from the front and scored a magnificent 109 off 91 balls, a challenging score of 288 for eight balls. India responded strongly with Smriti Mandhana (88) and Harmanpreet Kaur (70) forming a 125-run partnership that left fans believing the game was theirs to win. But as often happens in cricket, the momentum was lost at the most inopportune moment.
Knight secures England’s innings with a captain’s strike
England won the toss and elected to bat first and the decision paid off handsomely. Openers Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones got off to a solid start, adding 73 runs before Deepti Sharma, India’s most reliable bowler of the day, dismissed Beaumont for 22 – her 150th ODI wicket.
Jones continued to hold the innings tight, reaching her half-century off 62 balls before falling to 56. That brought Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt together and the pair shut down India’s bowling attack. The duo added 113 runs for the third wicket and took England past the 200-run mark with ease.
Knight’s innings was a masterclass in shot selection – a mix of traditional cover attacks and cheeky reverse moves. She reached her century off just 86 balls, much to the frustration of the Indian bowlers who struggled to find a breakthrough.
After Knight was run out for 109, England’s midfield faltered, with Sophia Dunkley (15) and Alice Capsey (2) falling narrowly. Deepti Sharma was India’s standout performer, taking 4 wickets for 51 runs while Sree Charani contributed with 2 for 68 runs.
Despite a late stumble, England scored a competitive 288/8 in 50 overs – a score that looked slightly below par on a batting-friendly pitch but later proved to be just enough.
Mandhana and Harmanpreet revive India’s chase
India’s fightback got off to a rocky start as Lauren Bell dismissed Rawal early for 6th. But when Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur took the crease, the tone of the innings changed dramatically.
Both batters played with authority and flair, countering England’s disciplined bowling with a mix of aggression and timing. Mandhana brought up her half-century in 60 balls while Harmanpreet followed soon after with her own fifty balls.
The crowd in Indore came alive as the pair reached a 100-strong partnership. At this point, India needed just over six runs per over – very well within reach. But just when the game seemed to be going in India’s favour, Nat Sciver-Brunt delivered the decisive blow, dismissing Harmanpreet with a sharp catch from Emma Lamb for 70.
Mandhana, who looked well set for a century, failed soon after for 88 and was caught in the deep by Capsey off the bowling of Linsey Smith. This moment proved to be a turning point. India went from cruise to disintegration.
Deepti Sharma tried to keep the chase alive, scoring a consistent 53, but wickets at the other end and tight death bowling from Smith and Bell snuffed out India’s hopes. Despite needing just 27 runs in the last three overs, India managed just 22 – leaving them woefully short at 284 for six runs.
Mandhana takes responsibility for the collapse
A visibly dejected Smriti Mandhana took full responsibility for India’s defeat in the post-match press conference.
“We could have done better with our shot selection,” admitted Mandhana. “It started with me, so I’ll take it upon myself. We only needed six runs an over – maybe we should have approached the game more intensely. The breakdown started with me.”
Her honesty resonated with fans and teammates alike, reflecting disappointment in a team that fought hard but couldn’t cross the finish line.
Harmanpreet: “A heartbreaking moment”
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur echoed Mandhana’s sentiments and called the defeat “heartbreaking”.
“Smriti’s wicket was the turning point. We still had batters but I don’t know how it went the other way around. Credit to England – they didn’t lose hope and kept taking wickets,” she said.
Despite the defeat, Harmanpreet continued to be positive about the Indian election campaign.
“We are playing good cricket, we are not giving up. But we have to cross the line. The next game against New Zealand is very important,” she added.
The English players praise the team’s composure
England all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt praised her team’s calm under pressure.
“Everyone was really clear about what they had to do. Smriti and Harman were strong, but we knew that a single wicket could change things – and it did,” she said.
Linsey Smith, who secured victory with an excellent finish, called it a “tremendous team effort”.
“The fight we showed was great. My role was simple: throw tight lines and stay straight. I just relied on myself,” Smith told Sky Sports after the game.
Knight named player of the game
In the end there were no surprises – Heather Knight was named player of the match for her captaincy innings to ensure England’s victory.
“I’m really happy. It felt like we needed 300, so I was a little frustrated that I got out before we got there,” Knight said. “But it was a special innings, especially on such a big occasion. I’m glad it helped the team get to the semi-finals.”
The path ahead
With this victory, England secured their place in the semi-finals and continued their strong streak of success in the tournament. India, on the other hand, still has a chance of qualifying but will now have to beat New Zealand in Navi Mumbai to stay in the race.
It’s a bitter pill for India to swallow – a game they could have won and perhaps should have won. But in Mandhana’s words, it’s about learning to “take the game deeper.” The gap between victory and defeat ended up being just four runs – but those four runs could determine India’s path to the World Cup.
