In a match that had all the makings of a semi-final preview, 
England edged out hosts 
India by just four runs in a pulsating ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 encounter at the Holkar Cricket Stadium.
Heather Knight‘s masterful 109 propelled England to 288/8, a total that India chased valiantly but fell agonizingly short of, ending at 284/6.
The result catapults England into the semi-finals, while India now face a do-or-die scenario in their remaining fixtures to keep their title hopes alive.
The day-night thriller, played under the Diwali lights in front of a raucous home crowd, was a testament to the growing intensity of women’s World Cup.
England skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt won the toss and opted to bat first on a pitch that promised steady bounce but offered little early assistance to the seamers.
India, coming off back-to-back losses to South Africa and Australia, desperately needed this win to avoid slipping further in the points table, where Australia and South Africa have already secured semi-final spots.
England’s Innings: Knight’s Masterclass Amid Steady Starts and Late Scares in Women’s World Cup
England’s innings got off to a composed start, with openers Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones weaving a 73-run stand in 16 overs.
The duo’s accumulation was methodical, picking singles and rotating the strike against a probing Indian attack led by Renuka Singh Thakur and Deepti Sharma.
However, India nearly struck early when Beaumont was clean bowled on 22 left England to 73/1.
Enter Heather Knight, celebrating her 300th international appearance.
The England Batter, who had battled injury doubts leading into the tournament, unleashed a barrage of sweeps and reverse sweeps that neutralized India’s spinners.
Knight’s 109 off 91 balls – her third ODI century – was a blend of calculated aggression and resilience,
pulling England out of a mid-innings stutter.
She shared vital stands, including 65 with Sophia Dunkley,
before a moment of over-ambition saw her run out in the 45th over for a rocket throw from Amanjot Kaur to wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh.
England’s momentum waned in the death overs as India’s bowlers tightened the noose.
Deepti Sharma (4/51) and Sree Charani (2/68) orchestrated a collapse,
claiming three wickets for just eight runs in 14 balls to haul England from 249/3 to 257/6.
Late cameos from Charlotte Dean pushed the total to 288/8,
but India would have been quietly pleased with their containment efforts after England eyed 320 at one stage.
India’s Chase: Partnerships Crumble Under Pressure in Heart-Stopping Run Fest
Chasing 289 on a wearing pitch, India needed their top order to fire.
Opener Pratika Rawal fell early for 6, bowled by Lauren Bell, but vice-captain Smriti Mandhana steadied the ship with a fluent 88 off 94 balls.
Her partnerships with Harleen Deol (24) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (70) were the highlights,
bringing up India’s 100 in 19.1 overs and injecting much-needed momentum.
Harmanpreet, under pressure after recent inconsistencies, rediscovered her touch with elegant drives and lofts,
Crossing the 1,000-run milestone in Women’s World Cup in the process – a feat dubbed the “HAR-MONSTER” by fans on social media.
The duo’s 112-run stand for the third wicket had India ahead of the required rate at the halfway mark, reaching 163/2 after 30 overs.
But England fought back ferociously.
Nat Sciver-Brunt (2/47) dismissed Harmanpreet in the 38th over, triggering a collapse that saw India lose three quick wickets.
Deepti Sharma’s gritty 50 off 57 balls, including crucial boundaries in the slog overs, kept the chase alive,
but the required rate crept above 12.
In the final over, with 19 needed off 11 balls, Deepti and Amanjot Kaur (18*) pushed hard, but Linsey Smith held her nerve to seal a famous win.
India finished at 284/7, their highest successful chase falling just short in a match that swung wildly.
Key Moments and Turning Points
- Knight’s Resilience: Her century, laced with 10 fours and two sixes, turned a potentially modest total into a daunting one. A dropped catch on 45 cost India dearly.
- The Mid-Innings Collapse: England’s loss of three wickets in 14 balls handed India a lifeline, but Knight’s earlier acceleration proved decisive.
- Harmanpreet’s Milestone: Crossing 1,000 World Cup runs boosted morale, but her dismissal sparked the chase’s unraveling.
- Final Over Drama: Deepti’s late surge brought the equation to 19 off 11, but England’s composure shone through, echoing their 2017 final win over India.
Aftermath: England March On, India Face Crunch Time in Women’s World Cup
Post-match, Knight called her knock “match-defining,” crediting the pitch’s boundary options for her freedom.
Sciver-Brunt praised her team’s depth: “Heather’s innings gives us massive confidence ahead of Australia.”
For India, Harmanpreet lamented the close miss: “We were in it till the end, but small margins decide big games.”
England now join Australia and South Africa in the semis, with New Zealand lurking.
India, on a three-match losing streak, must win their next two against New Zealand and Bangladesh to salvage their campaign.
This rivalry, revived from the 2013 World Cup classic, promises more fireworks.
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