In a heart-stopping contest at Holkar Stadium in Indore, England emerged victorious by just four runs over co-hosts India, clinching a coveted semifinal berth at the Women’s Cricket World Cup on October 19, 2025. The match, a true rollercoaster, saw India’s hopes rise and fall as they chased a formidable target of 289, only to be halted at 284-5 after 50 overs. This result leaves the Indian team teetering on the edge, with their semifinal fate hanging in the balance and every run, wicket, and strategic move now under the microscope as group play hurtles toward its dramatic conclusion.
England, having chosen to bat first, set the tone early with a determined approach. Openers Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones provided a solid start, putting on 73 runs before Jones was dismissed for a well-crafted 56 off 68 balls. Beaumont contributed 22, navigating a tricky opening spell. But it was Heather Knight who truly stole the show. The former captain, playing her 300th international game, delivered a masterclass in batting, notching her third ODI century with a commanding 109 off 91 balls. Her innings was laced with 14 boundaries and a towering six, and she anchored a vital 113-run partnership with captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, who added a steady 38 from 49 deliveries.
Reflecting on her performance, Knight said, "I got myself in and put down the accelerator. It felt like we needed 300 on that pitch but it was frustrating to not get there in the end. I was desperate to put in a statement performance for my 300th [international game] and I am pleased to do that." Her dismissal in the 45th over, run out as she pushed for a second run, triggered a late wobble in the England innings. The visitors lost five wickets for just 31 runs across 5.1 overs, with India’s Deepti Sharma spinning a web around the middle order, collecting 4 wickets for 51 runs in her 10 overs. Despite this collapse, England managed to post a competitive 288-8, leaving the door open for a tense chase.
India’s reply, however, did not begin on a high note. Pratika Rawal was caught behind for just 6, and Harleen Deol was trapped leg before wicket for 24 by Charlie Dean. At 42-2, the pressure was on, but opener Smriti Mandhana and captain Harmanpreet Kaur responded with poise and aggression. The duo stitched together a sparkling 125-run stand off 122 balls, thrilling the packed stadium and swinging the pendulum firmly in India’s favor. Mandhana, in sublime touch, notched her second consecutive half-century, eventually top-scoring with 88, while Kaur’s run-a-ball 70 kept the chase on track.
As the partnership blossomed, Kaur reached her fifty in 54 balls, showcasing her trademark grit. Yet, as is so often the case in high-pressure chases, momentum proved fickle. Sciver-Brunt provided the breakthrough, dismissing Kaur and giving England a much-needed lifeline. Deepti Sharma, undeterred, joined Mandhana and contributed a crucial 50 off 57 balls, their 67-run partnership keeping Indian hopes alive. With 62 needed from the final 60 deliveries, the match hung in the balance.
The turning point arrived in the 42nd over. Mandhana, eyeing a big finish, attempted a lofted shot against Linsey Smith but was caught on the boundary for 88—a moment that sent shockwaves through the stadium and, according to Kaur, changed the complexion of the game. "Smriti’s dismissal was the turning point," Kaur admitted post-match. "We had sufficient batting to finish the game, but I don’t know how things went the other way. Credit to England – they kept bowling well and kept getting wickets." Smith, whose 10-over spell yielded 1-40, had delivered the crucial blow.
From 234-3, India’s chase unraveled. Deepti Sharma fell to Sophie Ecclestone in the 47th over, and the required rate crept higher. Amanjot Kaur (18 not out) and Sneh Rana (10 not out) battled valiantly, but England’s bowlers held their nerve—especially in the final overs. India needed 14 from the last over, but Smith and her teammates closed out the game in dramatic fashion, sparking wild celebrations among the England contingent and heartbreak in the stands.
For England, the win secured their fourth victory in five games, booking a place alongside defending champions Australia and South Africa in the semifinals. Their next challenge looms large: a clash with Australia, set for October 22 at the same venue. The squad, under the guidance of captain Sciver-Brunt and coach Charlotte Edwards, appears to have hit its stride at the right moment. Sciver-Brunt, who contributed with both bat and ball (2-47), praised her team’s composure: "Everyone showed how calm they were and clear in what they do. We knew in the bowling innings we needed to stick in. It’s something we’ve spoken about before the game [that] we haven’t been tested towards the end of our innings with the ball. We wanted to be prepared with our skills and tactics. Everyone had brilliant plans and executed brilliantly."
India, meanwhile, faces a daunting road ahead. Their third consecutive defeat—following losses to Australia and South Africa—means they must now win both remaining group matches to have any hope of advancing. With four points from five games, India will meet New Zealand on October 23 and Bangladesh on October 26. The pressure is immense, but Kaur remains defiant: "We are playing good cricket, we are not giving up, that last line we need to cross now, in the last three games we’ve played good cricket but not crossed that line."
The match in Indore wasn’t just about numbers and milestones; it was a showcase of resilience, skill, and the unpredictable drama that defines World Cup cricket. England’s ability to claw back from the brink, India’s brilliance and heartbreak, and the individual performances—Knight’s hundred, Mandhana’s artistry, Deepti’s all-round heroics—will be talked about for years to come. As the dust settles and the tournament moves toward its climax, the only certainty is that more fireworks are on the way.
With the semifinals now set for England and the fate of India hanging by a thread, all eyes turn to the next round of matches. Can India regroup and mount a comeback? Or will England’s momentum carry them all the way to another World Cup crown? Cricket fans around the globe will be watching every ball, every run, and every twist with bated breath.
