IND vs NZ live score Women's World Cup: Smriti hits hundred, Pratika steady as India in command

There it is! Smriti Mandhana brings up a magnificent 14th ODI hundred — and what a moment this is! A simple single off Jess Kerr to sweeper cover takes her to the landmark, and she’s greeted with a roar from the crowd. In the dressing room, captain Harmanpreet Kaur is on her feet, applauding — as are the rest of her teammates.

With this ton, Mandhana equals Harmanpreet’s record for the most hundreds by an Indian in Women’s World Cups and edges one step closer to Meg Lanning’s all-time record for most ODI centuries.

And there’s more — this is also her fifth hundred of the year, equalling South Africa’s Tazmin Brits for the most Women’s ODI tons in a calendar year. A truly special innings from India’s star opener!

LIVE SCORE: India (192 for 0 in 31 overs) vs New Zealand. Smriti (100*), Pratika (77*)

Smriti Mandhana is in complete command here! Even New Zealand’s premier bowler, Amelia Kerr, hasn’t been spared. First, Mandhana lofted her beautifully over long-on — pure timing, pure class — and then unleashed a cracking slog sweep to add another boundary.

She’s mixing elegance with authority, and with that, she moves into the 90s. The crowd can sense it — a big milestone is just around the corner!

LIVE SCORE: India (181 for 0 in 29 overs) vs New Zealand. Smriti (91*), Pratika (75*)

Pratika Rawal — under pressure coming into this game after a string of starts that didn’t quite blossom — seems to have found her rhythm today!

Coach Amol Muzumdar had backed her strongly before the match, praising her form over the past year. And she’s living up to that faith in style.

The way she’s batted so far against the White Ferns, Pratika’s proving why her coach never doubted her — calm, composed, and capitalizing on every loose delivery.

Just when it looked like New Zealand had finally broken through — Smriti Mandhana survives! Amelia Kerr, who’s been a touch expensive so far, thought she had her woman trapped in front.

The umpire’s finger went up, and for a moment, the White Ferns were celebrating. But Mandhana immediately went upstairs — and what a review that turned out to be!

Replays showed a clear inside edge, saving India’s star opener. A huge sigh of relief in the Indian camp!

LIVE SCORE: India (160 for 0 in 27 overs) vs New Zealand. Smriti (79*), Pratika (66*)

Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana have laid the perfect foundation for India here — exactly the kind of start the hosts were hoping for. But the job’s far from done.

India will want to make sure they build on this platform and post a commanding total against the White Ferns. The key now? Not to repeat that slip-up from the Australia game, where a strong start fizzled out in the middle overs.

This is the moment to press on and make it count!

LIVE SCORE: India (155 for 0 in 26 overs) vs New Zealand. Smriti (76*), Pratika (64*)

With their 100-run stand, Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal have equalled a world record. They have now got the joint-most hundred run stands in a calendar year for any wicket.

Most century stands in a calendar year

5 - Belinda Clark, Lisa Keightley (AUS-W) in 2000

5 - Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal (IND-W) in 2025

4 - Suzie Bates, Rachel Priest (NZ-W) in 2015

4 - Tazmin Brits, Laura Wolvaardt (SA-W) in 2025

India are pushing the rate up to 5.5 will aim to keep it going up with some fearless cricket. These two can now look to attack more.

LIVE SCORE: India (121 for 0 in 22 overs) vs New Zealand. Smriti (60*), Pratika (48*)

That's the third consecutive fifty for Smriti Mandhana in the tournament as she has found form at the right time. She is the second Indian after captain Harmanpreet Kaur to get to the landmark. India gets to 100 runs without the loss of a wicket and the foundation is set for a big total in Navi Mumbai. They will need one of these two to go on and get a big score. If both can get a hundred, then nothing like it if you're an Indian team fan.

LIVE SCORE: India (106 for 0 in 18.4 overs) vs New Zealand. Smriti (51*), Pratika (42*)

"The Indian flags are flying high here at the Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, with the openers finally getting a move on after a sluggish start. The boundaries have been consistent, and so has been the strike rotation. Something seems to have turned on the switch of urgency in both the batters as India go into the drinks break with momentum on their side. Meanwhile, the crowd has got louder and louder as the ground stands to my right is almost full. Despite the immense heat at the venue, the spirits are ever so high in the lively crowd as some are also performing a step or two with the official ICC mascots Blaze and Tonk." - Rishabh.

LIVE SCORE: India (92 for 0 in 16.4 overs) vs New Zealand. Smriti (43*), Pratika (37*)

Rishabh informs us that Pratika Rawal has got her name into the history books, becoming the joint fastest batter to complete 1000 runs in Women's ODIs. The 25-year-old has a massive fan following in Navi Mumbai as people chant her name in the stands with the stadium announcer urging them to shout it out loud in unison. As evident from the head coach, Amol Muzumdar's reply to a question from India Today in the pre-match press conference, the team management has massive faith in the youngster. The stage is set for Pratika to repay the management's trust with a big knock here.

Once again Rishabh's magic works as India get back-to-back boundaries, first a leg bye and then one, which can be called the shot of the day so far. And then she betters it with a straight lofted shot for a boundary.

LIVE SCORE: India (66 for 0 in 13 overs) vs New Zealand. Smriti (26*), Pratika (28*)

Rishabh is saying that New Zealand have been top-notch with their ground fielding, not allowing the Indian openers to rotate the strike at will. Both batters are yet to break free, as New Zealand are wasting no opportunity to pile on the pressure. Meanwhile, Smriti Mandhana brings back the crowd alive with a gorgeous inside-out lofted shot to launch Eden Carson for a maximum. The crowd is swelling up here as the ground stands are almost full. Expect more people to turn up as the game progresses and people return from their work.

The moment Rishabh says this, Pratika shows some aggression and sends Devine to the boundary. Think we need more such comments from Rishabh.

LIVE SCORE: India (40 for 0 in 10 overs) vs New Zealand. Smriti (22*), Pratika (15*)

A nice sweep shot from Mandhana here as she also gets into the act of getting boundaries. While Carson puts in a tidy over after that, the Indian opener pounces on a loose one from Devine in the next over for another one. She now uses her feet well for a well-timed six as the fielder was a mere spectator. India needs more of this from both openers as this has been a slow start so far.

LIVE SCORE: India (35 for 0 in 8.4 overs) vs New Zealand. Smriti (21*), Pratika (11*)

Rishabh says that the crowd finally finds its voice as Pratika Rawal flicks Rosemary Mair towards deep square leg to get the first boundary of the innings. She further ends the over with another one, clearing the infield and collecting the second four. Indian fans rise to their feet in the stands, cheering at the top of their voice in the hot and humid conditions of Navi Mumbai.

LIVE SCORE: India (18 for 0 in 6 overs) vs New Zealand. Smriti (4*), Pratika (11*)

And finally, India gets a boundary away. It's Pratika Rawal who is able to find the gap and flick it as Rosemary Mair was a little wayward with her line. She gets another one, this time on the offside. The crowd had something to cheer and they will hope there is more to come.

LIVE SCORE: India (15 for 0 in 5 overs) vs New Zealand. Smriti (2*), Pratika (10*)

The crowd is slowly building up in Navi Mumbai, according to our very own Rishabh Beniwal. Ground stands are filled up. However, Rishabh is also saying that it has been a sluggish start for India as Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal take their time to assess the pitch conditions. A whopping 17 dot balls in the first three overs as the crowd wait in anticipation for the first boundary. Both batters are waiting for loose deliveries to pounce on, but New Zealand have been very disciplined with their line and length, along with variations in speed.

LIVE SCORE: India (7 for 0 in 4.2 overs) vs New Zealand. Smriti (2*), Pratika (2*)

Rosemary Mair has the new ball. The pitch at the DY Patil Stadium has a brown tinge to it. Pratika Rawal takes strike. Will she be busier than before today? Questions have been asked about dot balls faced by the opener in this Women's World Cup.

India need a good start if they are to score in excess of 300.

The extra batter will give Smriti Mandhana a bit more freedom at the top. India need a proactive start and pundits, including Mithali Raj, are backing Smriti to get a big one today after two back-to-back fifties.

There have been concerns about Pratika Rawal's strike rate, although head coach Amol Mazumdar played it down in a strongly-worded response to our reporter, Rishabh Beniwal.

The batting has to click for India. They need to target 300 on what has been a good batting pitch in Navi Mumbai.

"I think India is in good position to score 300 in today's game," says Raj.

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