Navi Mumbai, Oct 23 (NationPress) Openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal delivered remarkable centuries, forming a significant 212-run partnership as India amassed an impressive 340/3 against New Zealand during a rain-affected 49-overs-a-side match in the ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.

Smriti Mandhana played aggressively, smashing ten boundaries and three sixes to score 109 off 95 balls, while Pratika Rawal anchored the innings with a stellar 122 off 134 balls, hitting 13 boundaries and two sixes on a pitch that was favorable for batting. This marked Mandhana's 14th ODI century and Rawal's second ODI hundred, and her first in the World Cup.

India's much-criticized top order finally clicked, as Jemimah Rodrigues, who replaced Amanjot Kaur, capitalized on the strong foundation laid by Mandhana and Rawal with a quick half-century, scoring fifty off just 38 balls. A brief rain interruption late in India's innings held the players inside the dugouts for over an hour, leading to the loss of one over each side and reducing the mid-innings break to just 10 minutes.

Despite a slow start, with India reaching 40/0 during the Power-play, they scored 75 runs in the next 10 overs and 73 runs in the overs between the 21st and 30th, while accumulating 66/1 in overs 31 to 40.

Mandhana and Rawal began their innings cautiously before switching gears. Mandhana reached her fifty off 49 balls with four boundaries and two sixes. The 29-year-old from Maharashtra, who was initially given out lbw to Amelia Kerr but survived a DRS review, celebrated her 14th ODI century off 88 balls, showcasing her batting prowess with 10 fours and three sixes, crucial for India's semifinal hopes.

She displayed exceptional stroke-play, comfortably commanding the bowlers, particularly targeting New Zealand's Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr. Mandhana's innings ended at 109 off 95 balls when she misplayed a slog-sweep and was caught at midwicket.

Meanwhile, Rawal initially played a supporting role before reaching her fifty off 75 balls. She also made history by matching a world record as the joint-fastest player to 1000 career runs in just 23 innings, equaling Lindsay Reeler's record.

The pair's partnership of 212 for the first wicket stands as the highest for India in ODIs and their fourth 150-plus stand, tying them for the most alongside notable pairs like Belinda Clark-Lisa Keightley and Suzie Bates-Amy Satterthwaite.

Rawal reached her century off 122 balls and added 76 runs for the second wicket with Jemimah Rodrigues, who also impressed with her 76 not out, hitting 11 boundaries.

New Zealand's skipper used seven bowlers, but none could penetrate the Indian batting lineup, as the pitch provided little assistance.

Brief 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) against New Zealand.