India's Women's Cricket World Cup dream hangs in the balance as they prepare to face Australia in the semi-final at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday, October 30. This match is seen by many as a clash between the home favorites and the most successful team in women's cricket.
Australia enters the contest as the top-ranked team in women's ODIs and remains undefeated in the tournament, seeking a record-extending eighth World Cup title. India, supported by a passionate home crowd, aims to capitalize on their home advantage and secure their first-ever World Cup victory.
Formidable Opponents
Australia's dominance in women's ODIs is evident in their head-to-head record against India, with 49 wins out of 60 matches. At the World Cup, Australia has won 11 of the 14 games played between the two sides. Since the 2017 World Cup, Australia's ODI record stands at 78 wins out of 87 matches. They have navigated a challenging group stage, recovering from difficult situations against teams like New Zealand and Pakistan. In their recent match against South Africa, Alana King achieved the best-ever bowling figures in a Women's World Cup, taking seven wickets for 18 runs.
India's journey to the semi-final has been a mix of highs and lows. After victories against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, they faced three consecutive defeats before securing a crucial win against New Zealand. India's explosive batting lineup, led by Smriti Mandhana, will be key to challenging Australia's well-balanced team. Mandhana is the leading run-scorer in the tournament, with 365 runs including a century.
Key Match-ups and Strategies
The absence of Pratika Rawal, who suffered an ankle injury, is a significant blow for India. Shafali Verma has been included in the squad as Rawal's replacement and may open the innings with Mandhana. Harmanpreet Kaur's performance will also be crucial. Her memorable innings of 171 not out in the 2017 World Cup semi-final against Australia remains a high point in Indian women's cricket.
Australia will rely on Alyssa Healy, who has scored 294 runs in the tournament, and Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney. Healy missed the last two league games due to a calf strain, and her return would bolster the Australian batting lineup.
Weather and Playing Conditions
There is a 25 percent chance of rain in Navi Mumbai on Thursday, with a 3 percent chance of thunderstorms. The semi-final has a reserve day, and play can be extended by 120 minutes. Both teams must bat for at least 20 overs for a valid result. The pitch at the DY Patil Stadium is expected to favor batters, with some assistance for spinners.
Historical Context
India has finished as runners-up twice in the Women's ODI World Cup, in 2005 and 2017. In the 2017 semi-final, India defeated Australia before losing to England in the final. India has won only two of their seven matches against Australia at ICC events since 2017.
The match is scheduled to start at 3:00 PM Indian Standard Time (IST) and will be broadcast on Star Sports Network, Disney+ Hotstar, and ICC TV.
