Women’s World Cup 2025 results: England reach semi-finals with thrilling win over India
England booked their place in the Women’s World Cup semi-finals with a thrilling four-run win over hosts India in Indore.
Having won the 289th set, India were on course with a score of 234-3 in the opener with Smriti Mandhana in the 88th over.
But the opener’s dismissal from soft play caught behind off spinner Linsey Smith in the 42nd over proved to be the turning point as the co-hosts completely lost their winning position.
The run rate rose and although Deepti Sharma’s gutsy half-century kept India’s hopes alive, the middle order collapsed under pressure and with 14 overs needed from the end Smith held his nerve as India finished on 284-6.
England’s 288-8 was set up by former skipper Heather Knight’s masterful 86-ball century as they started cautiously and reached 44-0 in the powerplay but crucially retained wickets.
Tammy Beaumont was again sizzling on 22 off 43 balls but found valuable form with 56 off balls before Amy Jones, Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt created a platform with a fluid stand of 113.
Knight was the attacker, scoring 15 fours and a six for his third one-day international century, and they put England in a great position at 211-3 with just over 11 overs before Sciver-Brunt fell for 38.
But England appeared to be a few runs short as they failed to capitalize on the partnership with another middle-order wobble, losing three wickets for eight runs in 12 balls.
Sophia Dunkley, Emma Lamb and Alice Capsey dropped in cheaply to return again; This too looked set to prove costly as Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur began wandering around, striking a similarly flawless partnership of 125 that had a raucous crowd roaring with each run.
Mandhana’s knock was superb and looked certain to eclipse Knight with a century, but a lapse in concentration cost India, who had three consecutive defeats, need to win their last two matches to secure a place in the semi-finals.
