Indore: England sealed their spot in the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 after surviving a nail-biting finish against India at the Holkar Stadium, Indore, on Sunday. The match went down to the wire, with India falling just four runs short of what could have been their highest-ever successful run chase in One Day Internationals.

England’s captain Heather Knight led from the front, smashing a magnificent 109 off 91 balls, setting up a challenging total of 288 for eight. India responded fiercely through Smriti Mandhana (88) and Harmanpreet Kaur (70), who stitched together a 125-run partnership that had fans believing the game was theirs to win. But as often happens in cricket, momentum slipped away at the worst possible moment.

Knight anchors England’s innings with a captain’s knock

Winning the toss, England opted to bat first, and the decision paid off handsomely. Openers Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones provided a solid start, adding 73 runs before Deepti Sharma, India’s most reliable bowler of the day, sent Beaumont packing for 22 — her 150th ODI wicket.

Jones continued to anchor the innings, reaching her half-century in 62 balls before falling for 56. That brought Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt together, and the pair turned the heat on India’s bowling attack. The duo added 113 runs for the third wicket, taking England past the 200-run mark with ease.

Knight’s innings was a masterclass in shot selection — blending traditional cover drives with cheeky reverse sweeps. She reached her century in just 86 balls, much to the frustration of Indian bowlers, who struggled to find breakthroughs.

Once Knight was run out for 109, England’s middle order wobbled, with Sophia Dunkley (15) and Alice Capsey (2) falling cheaply. Deepti Sharma was the standout performer for India, claiming 4 wickets for 51 runs, while Sree Charani chipped in with 2 for 68.

Despite a late stumble, England posted a competitive 288/8 in 50 overs — a score that looked slightly below par on a batting-friendly pitch, but one that would later prove just enough.

Mandhana and Harmanpreet revive India’s chase

India’s chase got off to a shaky start when Lauren Bell removed Rawal early for 6. But once Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur took the crease, the tone of the innings changed dramatically.

Both batters played with authority and flair, countering England’s disciplined bowling with a mix of aggression and timing. Mandhana brought up her half-century in 60 balls, while Harmanpreet followed soon after with her own fifty.

The crowd in Indore came alive as the pair reached a 100-run partnership. At that stage, India needed just over six runs an over — very much within reach. But just as the match seemed to be tilting in India’s favour, Nat Sciver-Brunt struck the crucial blow, dismissing Harmanpreet for 70 with a sharp catch by Emma Lamb.

Mandhana, who looked well set for a century, fell soon after for 88, caught in the deep by Capsey off Linsey Smith’s bowling. That moment proved to be the turning point. India went from cruising to crumbling.

Deepti Sharma tried to keep the chase alive, scoring a steady 53, but wickets at the other end and tight death bowling from Smith and Bell strangled India’s hopes. Despite needing only 27 runs off the final three overs, India managed just 22 — falling agonisingly short at 284 for six.

Mandhana takes responsibility for the collapse

A visibly dejected Smriti Mandhana took full responsibility for India’s loss in the post-match press conference.

“We could have done better with our shot selection,” Mandhana admitted. “It started from me, so I’ll take it on myself. We just needed six runs per over — maybe we should have taken the game deeper. The collapse started from me.”

Her honesty struck a chord with fans and teammates alike, reflecting the disappointment of a team that had fought hard but couldn’t cross the line.

Harmanpreet: “A heartbreaking moment”

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur echoed Mandhana’s sentiments, calling the defeat “heartbreaking”.

“Smriti’s wicket was the turning point. We still had batters, but I don’t know how things went the other way. Credit to England — they didn’t lose hope and kept getting wickets,” she said.

Despite the loss, Harmanpreet maintained a positive tone about India’s campaign.

“We’re playing good cricket, we’re not giving up. But we need to cross the line. The next game against New Zealand is very important,” she added.

England players praise team composure

England’s all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt praised her team’s calmness under pressure.

“Everyone was really clear about what they had to do. Smriti and Harman were going strong, but we knew one wicket could change things — and it did,” she said.

Linsey Smith, who bowled a superb final over to secure the win, called it a “massive team effort”.

“The fight we showed was amazing. My role was simple — bowl tight lines and keep it straightforward. I just backed myself,” Smith told Sky Sports after the match.

Knight named Player of the Match

No surprises in the end — Heather Knight was named Player of the Match for her captain’s innings that anchored England’s win.

“I’m really pleased. It felt like we needed 300, so a bit frustrated that I got out before we reached there,” Knight said. “But it was a special innings, especially on such a big occasion. Glad it helped the team get through to the semi-finals.”

The road ahead

With this win, England have booked their semi-final berth, continuing their strong run in the tournament. India, on the other hand, still have a shot at qualification but must now beat New Zealand in Navi Mumbai to stay in contention.

It’s a bitter pill for India — a game they could have, and perhaps should have, won. But in the words of Mandhana, it’s about learning to “take the game deeper”. The margin between victory and defeat, after all, was just four runs — but those four runs could define India’s World Cup journey.