Did India Secure Their Semifinal Spot by Defeating New Zealand by 53 Runs?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- India's batting depth
- Rain interruptions
- New Zealand struggled
- Strategic bowling
- India's win secured
Navi Mumbai, Oct 23 (NationPress) Despite notable half-centuries from Brooke Halliday and Isabella Gaze, New Zealand fell short against a dominant Indian side, losing by 53 runs via the DLS Method in a rain-affected Match 24 of the ICC Women's ODI World Cup on Thursday. This victory guaranteed the hosts a place in the semifinals.
Halliday scored 81 runs off 84 balls while Gaze added a quick-fire contribution as New Zealand chased a revised target of 325 runs in 44 overs, managing to reach 271/8. India set a formidable total of 340/3 in their innings, powered by contrasting centuries from Smriti Mandhana (109 off 95 balls) and Pratika Rawal (122 off 134 balls), alongside an explosive unbeaten 76 runs from Jemimah Rodrigues.
The match experienced interruptions due to rain, the first occurring after the 48th over of India's innings, leading to a one-hour delay and a reduction to 49 overs. Another break during the mid-innings cut the match further to 44 overs, setting New Zealand a revised target of 325 runs.
New Zealand's innings started poorly as Kranti Gaud dismissed opener Suzie Bates for just 1 run in the second over, with a catch taken by Pratika Rawal. Georgia Plimmer (30) and Amelia Kerr (45) managed to push the score past fifty during the Mandatory Power-play, but the Indian bowlers remained relentless.
Skipper Sophie Devine, the most seasoned player in the squad, was dismissed cheaply by Renuka Singh, leaving New Zealand in a precarious position at 59/3. With the DLS calculation becoming increasingly challenging, Amelia Kerr attempted to accelerate the scoring but was caught out at 115/4 in the 21st over.
Brooke Halliday kept New Zealand's hopes alive with a gritty half-century, reaching her fifty off 59 balls, but the scoring rate was slow with India’s bowlers maintaining tight lines. Halliday eventually fell for 81 runs, and with her departure, New Zealand’s chances dwindled.
Isabella Gaze reached her maiden ODI half-century, remaining not out on 65 off 51 balls, but her efforts came too late to change the outcome of the match.
Final Scores:
India: 340/3 in 49 overs (Smriti Mandhana 109, Pratika Rawal 122, Jemimah Rodrigues 76 not out; Suzie Bates 1-40, Rosemary Mair 1-52) New Zealand: (revised target 325 in 44 overs) (Brooke Halliday 81, Isabella Gaze 65 not out, Amelia Kerr 45; Renuka Singh 2-25, Kranti Gaud 2-48) lost by 53 runs via DLS method.