India Women secured a thrilling 4-wicket victory over New Zealand Women in their ICC Women’s World Cup warm-up match at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru on September 27, 2025. The hosts chased down a revised target of 237 with 10 balls to spare, with Harleen Deol and captain Harmanpreet Kaur leading the charge with fighting knocks in a rain-interrupted encounter.
Match Details
The day-night warm-up fixture at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground was reduced from the original 50 overs to 42 overs per side due to rain interruptions. New Zealand Women won the toss and elected to bat first in challenging conditions.
The match started at 3:00 PM local time with the first session scheduled until 6:10 PM, followed by a 30-minute interval before the second session from 6:40 PM to 10:10 PM. However, rain delays forced multiple reductions in overs throughout the contest.
New Zealand Women posted 232/8 in their allotted 42 overs before India Women successfully chased the DLS-adjusted target of 237, reaching 237/6 in 40.2 overs under the floodlights at Bengaluru.
Key Match Moments
New Zealand’s Batting Display
Sophie Devine led from the front with a captain’s knock of 54 off 54 balls at a strike rate of 100. The skipper found the boundary nine times, providing the backbone of New Zealand’s innings after early setbacks.
The White Ferns lost Georgia Plimmer (3) and Suzie Bates (19) inside the first eight overs. Amelia Kerr steadied the ship with a patient 40 off 67 balls, building a crucial 91-run partnership with Devine that took the score from 38/2 to 129/3.
Maddy Green remained unbeaten on 49 off 42 balls, striking at 116.66 with four boundaries and a six. Her late innings surge helped New Zealand post a competitive total of 232/8 in their 42 overs.
India’s Commanding Chase
Uma Chetry set the tone for India’s chase with an aggressive 38 off 36 balls, including six fours and a six at a strike rate of 105.55. Her early assault put India ahead of the required rate from the outset.
Harleen Deol anchored the innings with a magnificent 74 off 79 balls, hitting 10 boundaries before retiring out at 203/2 in the 34th over. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur provided the finishing touches with 69 off 86 balls, ensuring India stayed well ahead of the DLS target throughout their chase.
Scoreboard Summary
| Team | Overs | Runs/Wickets | Run Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand Women | 42/42 | 232/8 | 5.52 |
| India Women | 40.2/42 | 237/6 | 5.88 |
Bowling Analysis
New Zealand Women’s bowling effort:
- Bree Illing — 2/34 in 9 overs (economy: 3.77)
- Jess Kerr — 2/43 in 6 overs (economy: 7.16)
- Eden Carson — 1/48 in 6.2 overs (economy: 7.57)
India Women’s bowling performance:
- Shree Charani — 3/49 in 9 overs (economy: 5.44)
- Kranti Goud — 2/31 in 5 overs (economy: 6.20)
- Arundhati Reddy — 2/42 in 9 overs (economy: 4.66)
Top Performers
India Women:
- Harleen Deol — 74* off 79 balls (retired out), 10×4, SR: 93.67
- Harmanpreet Kaur — 69 off 86 balls, 8×4, SR: 80.23
- Uma Chetry — 38 off 36 balls, 6×4, 1×6, SR: 105.55
- Pratika Rawal — 15 off 18 balls, 2×4, SR: 83.33
New Zealand Women:
- Sophie Devine (c) — 54 off 54 balls, 9×4, SR: 100.00
- Maddy Green — 49* off 42 balls, 4×4, 1×6, SR: 116.66
- Amelia Kerr — 40 off 67 balls, 4×4, SR: 59.70
- Isabella Gaze — 21 off 31 balls, 3×4, SR: 67.74
Captain’s Corner
“It was exactly the kind of match we needed before the World Cup,” said India captain Harmanpreet Kaur after her match-winning 69. “The rain delays tested our adaptability, and the way Harleen batted throughout the innings shows we have the depth to handle pressure situations.”
New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine, who top-scored with 54, remained optimistic: “232 was a decent total considering the conditions and early wickets. Our bowlers, especially Bree Illing with her 2 for 34, kept fighting till the end.”
Match Summary
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | ICC Women’s World Cup Warm-up |
| Teams | India Women vs New Zealand Women |
| Venue | BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground, Bengaluru |
| Date | September 27, 2025 (Day-Night) |
| Toss | New Zealand Women (elected to bat) |
| Umpires | Claire Polosak, Jacqueline Williams |
| Reserve Umpire | Sarah Dambanevana |
| Match Referee | Shandre Fritz |
| Result | India Women won by 4 wickets |
| Method | DLS Method (rain-affected) |
| Player of the Match | Harleen Deol (74* off 79 balls) |
What’s Next
Both teams will take valuable lessons from this NZ Women vs IND Women warm-up encounter into the main tournament. India Women’s convincing chase will boost confidence heading into their World Cup opener, while New Zealand Women will look to fine-tune their bowling strategies after a competitive showing.
The match highlights from this rain-affected thriller provided both teams with crucial match practice under pressure situations. India’s batting depth and New Zealand’s competitive spirit were on full display under the floodlights at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground.
Tournament Implications
This warm-up result gives India Women momentum as they prepare for the ICC Women’s World Cup campaign on home soil. The successful chase under DLS conditions demonstrates their adaptability to different match scenarios.