India, Oct. 24 -- The batting heroics of Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal and Jemimah Rodrigues gave India an advantage that they did not relinquish in their all-important ICC Women's ODI World Cup game against New Zealand at the DY Patil Stadium on Thursday.

Powered by hundreds from their openers and a statement-making unbeaten 76 (55 balls) from local player Jemimah, the home side scored 340 runs to dominate their penultimate league match from the word go and romp home to a 53-run win (by DLS method) and power into the semi-finals of the tournament.

India have three wins ahead of their final group game against Bangladesh. And NZ, even if they win on Sunday against England, will only get up to two wins. Sri Lanka, the other team on six p...