The stage was set for a high-stakes clash as India took on England at the Holkar Stadium in Indore during the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. With both teams eyeing a crucial win to keep their semifinal dreams alive, the encounter has lived up to the billing so far, offering drama, skill, and moments of individual brilliance that have kept fans glued to their screens.
England, put into bat first, posted a formidable total of 288 for 8 in their allotted 50 overs. The backbone of the English innings was none other than Heather Knight, who delivered a captain’s knock for the ages. Marking her 300th international appearance, Knight showcased her class and composure, smashing 109 runs off just 91 balls. Her innings, laced with 15 boundaries and a six, not only steadied the ship but also propelled England to a competitive score. According to the live update, “Knight’s (109) sweeping prowess was on full display as she laced her 91-ball knock with 15 fours and a six to get her third ODI hundred and highest-ever score in WODIs.”
Knight found able support from Amy Jones at the top of the order. Jones, ever reliable behind the stumps, contributed a valuable 56 from 68 balls, peppering the field with eight crisp boundaries. Nat Sciver-Brunt, England’s captain, chipped in with a steady 38 off 49 deliveries, keeping the momentum going in the middle overs. Sophia Dunkley (15 off 21) and Emma Lamb (11 off 10) offered late-order cameos, but it was Knight’s presence that truly anchored the English innings.
For India, the bowling honors belonged to Deepti Sharma. The off-spinner was the go-to option whenever skipper Harmanpreet Kaur needed a breakthrough. Sharma finished her 10-over spell with figures of 4 for 51, stifling England’s charge with her guile and accuracy. Shree Charani also made vital inroads, picking up 2 wickets for 68 runs in her 10 overs. The rest of the Indian attack—Renuka Singh (8-0-37-0), Kranti Gaud (8-0-46-0), and Sneh Rana (10-0-56-0)—found it tough to contain England’s batters, especially during the middle stages. However, India’s fielders made a spirited comeback in the final 10 overs, executing sharp run-outs and restricting England’s acceleration, a feat that could prove crucial in the chase.
The English innings saw its share of drama in the death overs. With the score looking set to breach the 300-run mark, India’s bowlers and fielders tightened the screws. Knight, after her masterful century, was run out thanks to a direct hit from Amanjot Kaur. The late wickets and disciplined bowling meant England had to settle for 288, leaving India with a challenging but not insurmountable target. As the match report noted, “India made a spirited comeback with sharp fielding and tight bowling in the death overs. England’s scoring rate slowed, and India managed to restrict the hosts, preventing further acceleration.”
Chasing 289 for victory, India’s reply began with cautious optimism. The openers faced disciplined bowling from Lauren Bell and Linsey Smith, managing just 27 runs for the loss of one wicket after seven overs. Pratika Rawal, making her World Cup debut, was the first to fall, caught behind by Amy Jones off Bell for 6. The early breakthrough gave England the momentum, but India’s batters were determined not to let the pressure get to them.
Harleen Deol, coming in at number three, looked solid, stroking a couple of boundaries and rotating the strike well. She built a promising partnership with Smriti Mandhana, but her innings was cut short on 24 when Charlie Dean trapped her LBW. The scoreboard read 42 for 2 after 10 overs, and the onus was now on Mandhana and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur to steady the ship.
Mandhana, known for her elegant strokeplay, began to find her rhythm, threading the gaps and dispatching loose deliveries to the boundary. Harmanpreet, meanwhile, wasted no time in asserting herself, flicking and cutting the English bowlers with authority. The pair’s partnership brought much-needed stability to the Indian innings, with the scoreboard ticking along at 75 for 2 after 15 overs. By the 16th over, India had moved to 81 for 2, with both batters looking set and the match finely poised.
The live ball-by-ball commentary captured the ebb and flow of the chase. One highlight read, “FOUR! Sublime shot! Loopy, full and just around off, Harmanpreet Kaur reaches out for it and smacks it through covers for a boundary.” Another described Mandhana’s deft touch: “Smriti Mandhana uses the pace of the ball and guides it beautifully past short third for another boundary.” These moments underscored the importance of building partnerships and maintaining composure under pressure.
England’s bowling attack, featuring the likes of Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, and Nat Sciver-Brunt, kept probing for wickets. Ecclestone, in particular, posed a challenge with her left-arm spin, a discipline that has troubled India throughout the tournament. Yet, both Mandhana and Harmanpreet appeared up to the task, playing the spinners with confidence and ensuring the required run rate remained within reach.
The match’s significance is heightened by India’s recent form—having suffered back-to-back defeats against South Africa and Australia, the Women in Blue are desperate to get back to winning ways. The pressure of a World Cup campaign, the weight of expectation, and the need for steady partnerships have all come to the fore in this contest. As one update put it, “Both batters showed resilience, with Kaur looking aggressive and Mandhana trying to rebuild after the early loss of wickets. India now requires steady partnerships to stabilize their innings.”
On the other side, England’s fielders have been sharp, and their bowlers disciplined, but they know that a single partnership could swing the match in India’s favor. With the game still in progress and India’s chase delicately balanced, the atmosphere at Holkar Stadium is electric. The live telecast on Star Sports Network and streaming on JioHotstar have ensured fans across India are following every ball, every twist, and every turn.
As the action continues, all eyes remain on Mandhana and Harmanpreet. Can they steer India to a famous win, or will England’s bowlers find a way to break the partnership and seize control? With both teams hungry for victory and the stakes higher than ever, this World Cup clash is delivering on all fronts. The chase is on, the tension is palpable, and cricket fans wouldn’t want it any other way.
