Smriti Mandhana’s Knock Cut Short in Semi-Final Defeat

A Promising Start Cut Short

Chasing a daunting 339-run target against Australia in the Women’s World Cup 2025 semi-final, Team India began on a confident note, driven by Smriti Mandhana’s fluent stroke play. Her timing and placement promised a long innings, but fate had other plans. In the 10th over, a moment of controversy and misfortune saw her dismissed under bizarre circumstances.
Australia’s Kim Garth bowled one down the leg side — called wide by the umpire — but captain Alyssa Healy challenged the decision with the DRS. To everyone’s surprise, the UltraEdge revealed a faint spike as the ball brushed close to Mandhana’s bat. The Indian opener, visibly stunned, walked back shaking her head in disbelief — a cruel twist in India’s early momentum.

Australia’s Dominant First Innings

Earlier in the match, Phoebe Litchfield produced a scintillating display of stroke-making, scoring a magnificent 119 runs that laid the foundation for Australia’s commanding total. She was ably supported by veterans Ellyse Perry (77) and Ashleigh Gardner (63), as the defending champions piled up an imposing 338 all out, falling just one ball short of their full quota.

India’s Bowling Struggles and a Lone Spark

While India’s bowlers toiled on a placid surface, Shree Charani stood out with an inspired spell of 2 for 49, including a tight third spell of 3-0-9-2. Her clever variations removed Beth Mooney (24) and the in-form Annabel Sutherland (3), preventing Australia from reaching an even bigger total. However, sloppy fielding and missed opportunities — including captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s early drop of Alyssa Healy — cost India dearly.

Litchfield’s Masterclass with the Bat

At just 22, Phoebe Litchfield batted with a maturity far beyond her years. Coming into the knockout match with only one half-century in the tournament, she turned the game on its head with a breathtaking century off just 77 balls.
Her innings was a masterclass in precision and creativity — blending orthodox drives with audacious reverse sweeps. At one point, she even began walking back, thinking she was caught off Amanjot Kaur, only to be recalled when replays showed the ball had touched the turf first.
Litchfield’s majestic knock included 17 fours and 3 sixes, with her lofted drives over cover and straight boundaries standing out as highlights of the innings. Her partnership of 155 runs with Perry for the second wicket provided the perfect platform for Australia’s late-innings fireworks.

Gardner’s Late Flourish

After a brief mid-innings slowdown that saw Australia slip from 220/2 to 265/6, Ashleigh Gardner reignited the charge. Her blistering 63 off 45 balls, featuring four sixes and as many boundaries, propelled the Aussies past the 300-mark, ensuring India faced a mountain to climb.

A Semi-Final to Remember

Australia’s all-round brilliance and India’s flashes of brilliance made this semi-final a gripping contest. Yet, as Smriti Mandhana’s unfortunate dismissal summed up, small moments can shift the tide in high-stakes cricket. Australia’s blend of youth and experience once again shone through, taking them to yet another Women’s World Cup final.

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Sorit Chaudhary

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