England Into Semi-finals With Thrilling Victory

England booked their place in the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 with a thrilling four-run victory over India.

Heather Knight’s glorious century helped England set India an imposing total of 289 for victory, with the batter posting 109 off just 91 balls.

It would have been India’s record run-chase in ODIs and they looked on course to reach it thanks to a brilliant 125-run partnership between Smriti Mandhana (88) and Harmanpreet Kaur (70).

But England were able to take wickets at key moments and excellent death bowling from Linsey Smith ensured India finished just short of the total.

The victory means England are guaranteed a place in the top four, while India face a pivotal contest against New Zealand in Navi Mumbai with qualification still alive.

Knight century anchors England to strong total

England opted to bat after winning the toss and made good on that decision through a strong opening stand between Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones.

The pair put on 73 for the first wicket before Deepti Sharma bowled Beaumont for 22, as the Indian bowler claimed her 150th ODI wicket.

Jones powered on to bring up her half-century in 62 balls before she fell for 56, clipping a half-volley to Smriti Mandhana at mid-wicket to give Sharma her second wicket of the match.

That left England 98 for two and provided the platform for Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt, who combined for a 113-run partnership in Indore.

A steady start saw both batters ease themselves in at the crease and deal well with the Indian spinners before they accelerated, with Knight hitting back-to-back fours off Sree Charani.

Knight then swiftly brought up her half-century with another boundary, reverse-sweeping Sneh Rana through third.

Knight continued to use the sweep to full effect as England brought up 200 with just over 12 overs remaining before Sciver-Brunt fell for 38 after her shot through the covers was caught by fellow captain Harmanpreet Kaur off the bowling of Charani.

That failed to immediately dent England’s momentum, with Knight motoring to her century in 86 balls before she was eventually run out for 109.

That proved decisive as the English batting attack wobbled in the final few overs. Sophia Dunkley (15) and Alice Capsey (2) fell in consecutive overs before Emma Lamb was caught on the boundary by Mandhana to depart for 11, as Sharma picked up her fourth wicket of the innings.

That reduced England to 276-7 and Sophie Ecclestone was run out in the following over for three as England struggled to add to their total, eventually finishing on 288 for eight from their 50 overs.

Mandhana and Harmanpreet lead India chase

England made the perfect start to the defence of their total, as Lauren Bell dismissed Rawal for six in the fourth over, as the opener nicked behind to Amy Jones.

Bell and Linsey Smith were both able to stymie India in the early overs, but the hosts began to find their feet and fight back, as Harleen Deol hit Bell for a pair of boundaries.

Deol continued to open up, with another three boundaries, before her innings was abruptly ended by Charlie Dean, who trapped her leg before on 24 to leave India 42 for two.

Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur steadied the ship and combined excellently to bring up India’s 100 before Mandhana reached her half-century off 60 balls.

Harmanpreet then followed with her half-century in the next over as England’s bowlers struggled to break the pairing.

The duo looked set to take India deep, but Nat Sciver-Brunt ended the 125-run partnership as Harmanpreet edged to Emma Lamb at short third while looking to open up through the off side to depart for 70.

Deepti Sharma picked up the mantle to continue India’s chase, providing the perfect foil to Mandhana as they took India over 200 but that partnership was ended when Smith had Mandhana caught in the deep by Alice Capsey on 88 with India just over 50 from victory.

That was Sharma’s cue to take control at the crease, and she duly reached her half-century off 55 balls.

Sciver-Brunt then struck with the very next ball to dismiss Richa Ghosh for eight, as the wicketkeeper-batter drove straight into the hands of Heather Knight at cover.

Sophie Ecclestone then claimed the crucial wicket of Sharma with just three overs remaining, as Sophia Dunkley held onto a catch in the deep to set up a grandstand finish.

India required 27 from the final three overs but miserly bowling from Smith alongside Bell at the death meant the hosts came up five runs short of their target.

India v England – Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore, India

England 288/8 from 50 overs (Heather Knight 109, Amy Jones 56; Deepti Sharma 4/51, Sree Charani 2/68)

India 284/6 from 50 overs (Smriti Mandhana 88, Harmanpreet Kaur 70; Nat Sciver-Brunt 2/47, Linsey Smith 1/40)

Result: England won by four runs