England has secured a coveted spot in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 semi-finals, overcoming India by a narrow four-run margin in a thrilling encounter at Indore’s Holkar Cricket Stadium. This victory marks England’s progression to the knockout stages, joining Australia and South Africa as the third confirmed semi-finalist. India’s quest for the trophy concludes with this defeat, their third consecutive setback in the tournament. Electing to bat after winning the toss, England set a challenging target of 288 for 8. India’s batting lineup showed resilience, with Smriti Mandhana leading the charge with an impressive 88 runs. Strong support came from captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who contributed 70 runs, and Deepti Sharma, adding a crucial 50. Despite these valiant efforts and sustained pressure on the English bowlers, England’s bowlers consistently found breakthroughs at vital junctures. They managed to dismantle key partnerships and control the flow of runs, significantly increasing the required run rate in the closing overs. This strategic bowling attack ultimately proved too much for India to overcome. Natalie Sciver-Brunt was particularly effective, claiming two wickets for 47 runs, ably supported by single wickets from Linsey Smith, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, and Lauren Bell, all of whom played a role in restricting India’s chase.
