Superb centuries from Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal powered India to a 53-run win over New Zealand and into the Women’s World Cup semi-finals on Thursday.
Co-hosts India joined defending champions Australia, England and South Africa in the final-four of the eight-nation tournament.
Openers Mandhana and Rawal put on 212 runs as India posted a mammoth 340-3 in 49 overs at a rain-hit DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
The left-handed Mandhana hit 109 and Rawal struck 122 as the pair started cautiously but soon bossed the opposition bowling with boundaries galore.
In reply, New Zealand finished on 271-8, chasing a revised target of 325 in 44 overs to bow out of the semi-final race with a match remaining.
The White Ferns, led by Sophie Devine, have been unlucky with two abandoned matches due to rain in Colombo.
“We are incredibly disappointed and gutted, not just for ourselves but for our friends and family,” said Devine, who will play her last one-day international against England on Sunday.
“Frustrating tournament — would have loved more opportunities to play.”
India bounced back from three defeats in a row to put up a clinical all-round show in their bid to win their first World Cup title.
“Whenever you’re playing at home, everyone expects a lot from us,” said skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. “Our discussions are that the crowd is with us and this is the time to enjoy rather than taking pressure.”
Mandhana and Rawal took the match away from New Zealand during their marathon stand — India’s best for any wicket in the women’s ODI World Cup.
