New Delhi: Indian skipper Mithali Raj notched up yet another ravishing century before left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad grabbed her maiden fi-fer to wrap up New Zealand for mere 79 runs thereby taking India into the semi-final round of the ICC Women's World Cup 2017, on Saturday. ( IND vs NZ: As it happened )


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It all seemed to be going the Kiwi way after skipper Suzie Bates rightfully opted to bowl first under the overcast sky. The bowlers were doing a good job keeping the two batswomen quite. The pacers sent back the two openers Punam Raut (4) and Smriti Mandhana (13) well within ten overs thereby adding to the concern of the Indian team.


Skipper Mithali Raj stepped in next with the task to rebuild Indian hope. She wove two century stands along side Harmanpreet Kaur (60) and then Veda Krishnamurthy (70) to fire up India's total to 265 runs. Mithali Raj (109) herself notched up her sixth ODI century and also became the first Indian cricketer to amass 1000 runs in Women's World Cup. 


Despite the above-par total put forth by the Indian eves, it took a stellar bowling performance to wrap up the White Ferns and register a massive 186-run victory in what was termed as the virtual quarter-final. The experienced Ekta Bisht was rested to bring in young Rajeshwari Gayakwad into the playing XI and she rightfully filled in the space to bag her maiden fi-fer.


Her first wicket came when she spun the ball past Amy Satterthwaite to outfox the Kiwi batswoman in the 18th over. Few overs later, she dismissed in-form Sophie Devine for just 7 runs and then Hannah Rowe (4) to reduce the White Ferns to 62/7 in 21.5 overs.


She continued troubling the New Zealand side finally removing Lea Tahuhu (5) and then Leigh Kasperek for a duck to complete her five-wicket haul.


Here is the video of Rajeshwari Gayakwad's maiden five-wicket haul...



Her 5/15 at Derby against New Zealand is now the best bowling figure by any Indian bowler in Women's World Cup.



Courtesy to Gayakwad and Mithali, India are now through to the semi-final round. This will be their first semi-final appearance in any ICC event since 2010. Indian eves will next take on the formidable Australian side on July 20.