India Women's Batting Masterclass Secures DLS Victory Against New Zealand

• By RubaiSport
• Posted Friday, October 24, 2025

DLS Method Shapes a High-Stakes Contest

India Women Conquer New Zealand Women by 53 Runs (DLS) in Thrilling World Cup Encounter

In a captivating 24th match of the Women's World Cup 2025, held at the illustrious Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai, India Women delivered a dominant performance to defeat New Zealand Women by 53 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. The highly anticipated clash, unfolding on October 23-24, 2025, saw record-breaking partnerships, fierce bowling spells, and a dramatic rain intervention that added an extra layer of strategy and excitement to an already enthralling contest. India's batting prowess, led by a spectacular pair of centuries from Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana, proved too formidable for the White Ferns, despite a valiant chase spearheaded by Brooke Halliday and Isabella Gaze.

India's Batting Masterclass: Rawal and Mandhana Set the Stage

The stage was set under the vibrant Navi Mumbai lights as India Women, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, unleashed an audacious display of power-hitting and classical strokeplay. The opening partnership between Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana was nothing short of historic, laying a rock-solid foundation that would ultimately dictate the course of the match. From the very first over, both batters displayed intent, finding boundaries with exquisite timing and rotating the strike with precision, turning the pressure squarely onto the New Zealand bowlers.

Pratika Rawal, showcasing her growing maturity and aggressive flair, notched up a magnificent century, her innings a blend of elegant drives and powerful pulls. She accumulated 122 runs off 134 balls, adorned with 13 fours and 2 towering sixes. Rawal's ability to pierce the field and capitalize on loose deliveries kept the scoreboard ticking at a brisk pace. Her monumental effort was complemented by the ever-reliable Smriti Mandhana, who demonstrated why she is considered one of the world's premier openers. Mandhana brought up her own sensational hundred, smashing 109 runs off just 95 deliveries, including 10 fours and 4 sixes. Her innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression, as she effortlessly cleared the ropes and manipulated the field to her advantage. The duo put on a massive partnership that demoralized the New Zealand attack, consistently punishing anything slightly off line or length.

The first wicket finally fell when Smriti Mandhana, after her dazzling century, was caught by a substitute fielder (HM Rowe) off the bowling of Suzie Bates, bringing an end to a partnership that had threatened to take the game completely away from New Zealand. Bates, often a reliable wicket-taker with her off-spin, finally broke through, but not before the damage was well and truly done.

Following Mandhana's departure, Pratika Rawal continued her charge, looking to accelerate further. However, her brilliant innings also concluded, caught by the same substitute fielder (HM Rowe) off the spin of Amelia Kerr. Kerr's ability to pick up a crucial wicket, even if late, demonstrated her all-round value to the team.

With two set batters back in the pavilion, the onus fell on the middle order to maintain the momentum. Jemimah Rodrigues stepped up to the plate with exceptional composure and urgency. Rodrigues played a scintillating cameo, remaining unbeaten on 76 runs off a mere 55 balls, laced with 11 fours. Her rapid scoring ensured there was no dip in the run rate, expertly exploiting the tired Kiwi bowlers and finding gaps with ease. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, though only contributing 10 runs off 11 balls before being caught by Eden Carson off Rosemary Mair, provided crucial support to Rodrigues. The innings was then finished off emphatically by Richa Ghosh, who hammered 4 runs off just 1 ball, including a boundary, to push India's total to an imposing 340 for 3 in their allotted 49 overs. The reduction to 49 overs suggests a minor interruption or delayed start, though the major DLS impact came later.

New Zealand Bowling Efforts

Facing such an onslaught, the New Zealand bowlers found it challenging to contain the Indian batters. Rosemary Mair was the most economical of the primary pacers, returning figures of 1 wicket for 52 runs from 8 overs. Amelia Kerr, despite picking up the key wicket of Pratika Rawal, conceded 69 runs from her 10 overs for 1 wicket. Suzie Bates also claimed a wicket, giving away 40 runs from 7 overs. Jess Kerr (8 overs, 51 runs), Sophie Devine (6 overs, 34 runs), Eden Carson (6 overs, 46 runs), and Lea Tahuhu (4 overs, 37 runs) all toiled hard but struggled to break the formidable partnerships early on.

The Kiwi Chase: Resilience Against a Revised DLS Target

As the New Zealand Women's innings commenced, the weather intervened, leading to a revised target under the DLS method. The original chase of 341 in 50 overs was daunting, but after the DLS calculation, New Zealand were tasked with scoring approximately 324 runs in 44 overs to win the match. This translated to a demanding required run rate of 7.36 runs per over.

The chase began on a shaky note for the White Ferns. Veteran opener Suzie Bates, usually a pillar of consistency, fell cheaply for just 1 run off 6 balls, caught by Pratika Rawal off the bowling of Kranti Gaud. This early setback piled immediate pressure on the batting side. Georgia Plimmer provided a brief spark, hitting a quickfire 30 runs off 25 balls with 5 fours and 1 six, but her aggressive start was cut short by a sharp delivery from Renuka Singh. Sophie Devine, the captain, also couldn't make a significant impact, falling for 6 runs off 9 balls, also to Renuka Singh, leaving New Zealand reeling.

Amelia Kerr, attempting to stabilize the innings, contributed a steady 45 runs off 53 balls before being caught by Smriti Mandhana off Sneh Rana's bowling. While her innings was crucial in stemming the flow of wickets, the required rate continued to climb.

Halliday and Gaze's Valiant Fightback

The real fightback for New Zealand came from Brooke Halliday and Isabella Gaze. Halliday played a magnificent innings, showing great character and skill under immense pressure. She scored a resilient 81 runs off 84 balls, including 9 fours and 1 six, keeping New Zealand's hopes alive with intelligent shot selection and determined running between the wickets. She found an able partner in Maddy Green, who added 18 runs off 20 balls before being caught by Kranti Gaud off the part-time spin of Pratika Rawal – a moment that further highlighted Rawal's all-round contribution. Halliday's crucial innings eventually ended when she was caught by Sneh Rana off Shree Charani, a significant wicket for India at a critical juncture.

Despite the regular fall of wickets, Isabella Gaze unleashed an impressive display of late-innings hitting. Her unbeaten 65 runs off just 51 balls, featuring 10 boundaries, was a testament to her fighting spirit. Gaze tried her best to close the gap, but with limited support from the tail-enders, the task proved too steep. Jess Kerr provided some late fireworks with 18 runs off 13 balls, including 2 sixes, but it wasn't enough.

New Zealand eventually finished their 44 overs at 271 for 8, falling short of the DLS target by 53 runs. Their spirited effort, particularly from Halliday and Gaze, provided moments of concern for India, but the early advantage established by India's batters and consistent wicket-taking proved insurmountable.

Indian Bowling Delivers Under Pressure

The Indian bowling unit, despite the pressure of defending a revised DLS target, delivered a disciplined performance. Renuka Singh led the charge with an excellent spell, taking 2 wickets for just 25 runs from 6 overs. Kranti Gaud also made a significant impact, claiming 2 wickets for 48 runs from 9 overs, including the early dismissal of Suzie Bates. Sneh Rana, Shree Charani, and Deepti Sharma each chipped in with a wicket, controlling the flow of runs and maintaining pressure. Pratika Rawal's all-round brilliance extended to her bowling, as she picked up 1 wicket for 19 runs from 4 overs, including the crucial wicket of Maddy Green.

Key Statistics and Turning Points

• Player of the Match: Pratika Rawal, for her magnificent 122 runs and a crucial wicket, making her a deserving candidate for the Player of the Match award. Her all-round contribution was instrumental in India's victory.
• Record Partnership: The 200+ run opening stand between Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana was the bedrock of India's innings, setting a commanding tone.
• DLS Impact: The rain interruption and subsequent DLS adjustment were critical. India's ability to maintain a high run rate and take wickets consistently ensured they stayed ahead of the curve.
• Top Scorers: Pratika Rawal (122), Smriti Mandhana (109), Jemimah Rodrigues (76*) for India; Brooke Halliday (81), Isabella Gaze (65*), Amelia Kerr (45) for New Zealand.
• Top Bowlers: Renuka Singh (2/25) and Kranti Gaud (2/48) for India; Rosemary Mair (1/52), Amelia Kerr (1/69), Suzie Bates (1/40) for New Zealand.
• Turning Point: The consistent fall of wickets in the New Zealand top order, despite promising starts, meant they could never truly get ahead of the DLS required rate, eventually allowing India to dictate terms.

Tactical Insights and Future Implications

This victory for India Women in the Women's World Cup 2025 sends a strong message to their competitors. Their batting depth, exemplified by two centuries and a rapid half-century, showcases their formidable firepower. The ability of their bowlers to take wickets under pressure, even with a DLS-adjusted target, highlights their well-rounded attack. This win will undoubtedly boost their confidence and solidify their position in the tournament standings, proving their credentials as strong contenders for the World Cup title.

For New Zealand Women, while disappointed with the loss, there are positives to take from the performances of Brooke Halliday and Isabella Gaze. Their resilience in the face of a challenging DLS target demonstrated fighting spirit. However, the early struggles of their top order and their inability to break the long Indian partnerships quickly will be areas of concern for captain Sophie Devine and the coaching staff. They will need to regroup and analyze their bowling strategies, especially against set batters, as the tournament progresses.

Post-Match Reactions and News

Following the match, the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy buzzed with excitement and commentary. Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur praised her team's "phenomenal batting display" and the "disciplined effort from the bowlers." She specifically lauded Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana, stating, "Rawal and Mandhana set the tone perfectly. Their partnership was extraordinary and gave us the platform we needed. Even with the DLS adjustment, we knew we had enough on the board if we stuck to our plans."

New Zealand's captain Sophie Devine acknowledged India's superior performance. "India batted exceptionally well. Two centuries is always tough to come back from, especially on a pitch like this. We fought hard, particularly Halliday and Gaze, but it wasn't enough today. We'll learn from this and come back stronger in the next match."

Media outlets hailed India's "batting carnival" and highlighted Pratika Rawal's emergence as a consistent centurion. Cricket pundits debated the implications of the DLS method in high-scoring games and praised the quality of cricket displayed by both teams, despite the weather interruption. The buzz around India's strong start to the World Cup 2025 is palpable, and this victory further fuels their ambitions.

Conclusion

The 24th match of the Women's World Cup 2025 between India Women and New Zealand Women was a captivating encounter that lived up to its billing. India's commanding batting performance, spearheaded by Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana, set an unassailable target. While New Zealand showed commendable resilience through Brooke Halliday and Isabella Gaze, the DLS-adjusted target proved too much to overcome. This significant win not only adds crucial points to India's tally but also underscores their potent combination of aggressive batting and disciplined bowling, marking them as formidable contenders in the ongoing tournament.