In a dramatic turn of events, four-time champions England clinched their spot in the Women’s World Cup semi-finals following a thrilling four-run victory over hosts India in Indore. England posted a formidable total of 288/8, largely thanks to Heather Knight’s masterful century. Despite their usually strong bowling being slightly under par, England managed to defend their score with nerves of steel.
India, initially well on track for victory, required just 62 runs from the final 10 overs with seven wickets still in hand. However, the game dramatically swung with the crucial dismissal of Smriti Mandhana. The elegant left-hander, who had brilliantly anchored India’s chase, stepped down the pitch to left-arm spinner Linsey Smith but failed to clear the long-off boundary. This pivotal wicket was quickly followed by the departures of Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma, exposing India’s lower order. As the match slipped away, the raw emotion was evident; Mandhana struggled to hold back her tears, a poignant testament to how agonizingly close India had come to triumph.
Deepti Sharma, having just reached her half-century, attempted a risky slog sweep against Sophie Ecclestone and was caught at deep mid-wicket, ultimately sealing England’s hard-fought victory. An image of Smriti Mandhana, looking visibly distraught, captured the team’s heartbreak.
“We probably needed 300, but we did well to pull things back and I’m very happy. Didn’t contribute much in the last couple of games, so it felt good to come up with a match-winning hundred,” remarked England’s captain Heather Knight, whose impressive 109 runs off 91 balls, adorned with 15 fours and a six, was the backbone of her team’s innings. England’s openers had provided a brisk start with a 73-run partnership, followed by a crucial 113-run stand between Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt. While England looked set to score over 300 at one point, Knight’s run-out during a second run caused a slowdown. Deepti Sharma was a standout for India, taking four wickets to keep her team in contention.
This defeat marks India’s third consecutive loss in the tournament, making their upcoming match against New Zealand a do-or-die encounter. Both India and New Zealand currently stand at four points, meaning India must secure wins in both their remaining games and hope for favorable outcomes in other matches to keep their semi-final aspirations alive.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed the team’s profound disappointment, stating, “Not sure how we lost this game. We had it in the bag. We’ve worked so hard and when the last five overs slip away from you, it’s heartbreaking. This is the third straight game we’ve lost after coming so close.” Her words, alongside Mandhana’s visible distress, perfectly encapsulated the anguish of a team that fought valiantly but ultimately fell short.