IND-W vs NZ-W

Australia, South Africa, England and India, the four semi-finalists are now confirmed. What's left? A few boxes to tick for some of the teams and a final chance to test themselves in the last round of league games which will also decide the order of the semis before we get down to serious business. It has been a long day, time to take your leave now. This is Sourabh Agrawal singing off from team SportsKeeda, keep following! Cheers!

Harmanpreet Kaur (India Women Captain): "It wasn't easy but credit goes to the entire team the way we played today. Everyone was charged up, we knew the importance of this match. We were getting starts (with the bat) but unfortunately were not converting. It was about time someone did and credit to Smriti and Pratika for that. When the openers put on 200, we decided that we would send Jemi at 3. The way she played, that is how the world wants to see her. We know in a home world cup everyone wants us to win but as a team we do not want to take extra pressure and just focus on enjoying the game. It was not easy (on keeping the spirits up) after the three losses. We have been doing well in batting but bowling is something we need to focus more on. We have one more game to cross it off."

Sophie Devine (New Zealand captain): Incredibly disappointed and gutted not just for ourselves but our family, friends and people who have supported us. It's been a very frustrating tournament to be honest. Would have loved more opportunities to play, more opportunities to bat but full credit to India for how they played today. Melie, Brooke Halliday and Izzy Gaze batted really well. Who knows if we'd have batted the full 50 overs we'd have got closer but absolutely gutted. I thought we were outstanding in the powerplay. We bowled at the stumps and contained them. It was a belter - 320-330 was about par. If you don't take wickets opposition teams can go hard. I thought our fielding was outstanding. Yes we dropped a couple of catches but our ground fielding was outstanding. We gave away too many runs. Today wasn't our day. (On Halliday and Gaze) The way that those two players in particular have continued to grow over the last 18-24 months I'm excited to see. They've been exceptional throughout the tournament. To be able to adapt according to different conditions, it's special talent to be able to manage that. Just unfortunate that this is the end of our tournament. (On Tahuhu's 200th game) She's been huge. Not the way she would have liked to play the game and the result she would have wanted but she's been amazing for what she's given to New Zealand. I don't know how she holds things together. She's been great this tournament. Really proud and I'm sure we'll celebrate with her later on. (On the last game against England) I've probably said it in the change room that for me it's just how we play the game. If we go out playing the way we know that we can I can be proud and hold my head high that that's how we play the game -not just the spirit but backing our strengths against the big nations here. They've got 1.4 billion people, we've got 5 million. Yes we can't progress through in this tournament but hell we're going to give the Poms a run for their money!

11:24 PM local time and IST: MATCH SUMMARY

India (340/3 in 49 overs) beat New Zealand (271/8 in 44 overs) by 53 runs via DLS method

Pratika Rawal 122(134) | Renuka Thakur 2/25(6)
Brooke Halliday 81(84) | Suzie Bates 1/40(7)

India were in search of a perfect performance right from the start of the tournament and after some harsh results and their campaign on the line, the hosts have turned up with what has been a near-perfect day on the field, both with the bat as well as the ball and not to forget their sharpness of the field.

The run of losses is broken and after 18 days and 3 heartbreaking results, India have got those invaluable 2 points and sealed qualification for the semi-finals.

It was all set up by a historical 212-run opening stand between Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal who scored twin centuries and in the end it was pretty fitting that Smriti got the catch on the final ball to complete the victory. Jemimah Rodrigues, having been dropped the previous game got her chance again today and she made sure that coach Amol Mazumdar will not have to make one of the toughest decisions again.

India piled up a massive 340 in their 49 overs. New Zealand's target was trimmed down to 325 in 44 overs after another rain break and to be fair the White Ferns were never really in it. Bates' dismissal in the second over was followed by a 50-run stand between Plimmer and Amelia but they lost regular wickets after that. Brooke Halliday's splendid 81 in the middle and Gaze's 65 lower down the order went in vain because the target was too tall and NZ just did not have enough ammunition.

Renuka's twin strike in two overs either side of the first powerplay removing a dangerous looking Plimmer and NZ's best batter Sophie Devine was a big passage of play in this chase. Every bowler that bowled for India picked up a wicket at least which will certainly please the hosts.

Smriti Mandhana is declared the Player of the Match for her stellar 109 off 95. Here's what she has to say: (Sense of relief?) For sure, big relief in terms of qualifying for the knockouts. Last three games were really tough. We played some good cricket but could not win. Pratika deserved it as much as I do, I'm surprised (grins). I like pace more than spin for sure. I like to dominate pace. Few nerves in the first few overs. I saw the scoreboard and then realized okay we cannot do that (on the slow start). Just had to back yourself and play your shots. First three games did not go my way. Especially the second and third game I wanted to play a longer innings but I was getting out after getting to 20. You need to understand that if you're feeling good and coming in good form you need to back yourself. I just had to tell myself that I will come good in the later stages. (What works while batting with Pratika?) We've been asked this question for the last eight odd months now. I don't think both of us can really answer that but we're similar in terms of doing the job. We don't talk a lot in between, just how many runs we need and stuff. She's a good anchor and allows me to play my natural game. When she gets going I slip into the anchor role. We understand that one person is going and we can rotate strike.

43.6 Deepti Sharma to Rosemary Mair, INDIA ARE INTO THE SEMIFINALS, they are delighted and why not. It has been a tough tournament for them despite playing well for large parts but it has been a near-perfect performance when the stakes were high. They will be joyed but more than that they will be relived and importantly they will now be in the semi-finals. The fourth and final spot in the semis goes to India and with the New Zealand have been officially eliminated from the tournament.

It is an apt way to sign off with a wicket, Mair wanted to finish with a bang but she holes out to Smriti at long-on who was delighted as she picked up the catch and sealed the win for the host nation.

43.5 Deepti Sharma to Rosemary Mair, stumping chance missed, this was flat and fast around leg, Mair was down the track but she missed it. The sub keeper Uma Chetry moves to her right but it hits her on the pads and she cannot gather it cleanly

42.6 Kranti Goud to Jess Kerr, GONE! Width offered on a back of a length and Kerr slashes hard. Ends up handing a sitter to Mandhana at backward point and the Indian vice-captain makes no mistake. It's coming to a sorry end now for the White Ferns

42.5 Kranti Goud to Izzy Gaze, short of a length outside off, Gaze is down the track and she cloths that one down to long-off and gets to the other end