India's women's cricket team moved one step closer to lifting the trophy in the ongoing Women’s ODI Tri-Series after securing a 23-run victory over South Africa on May 7, 2025. Chasing a semi-final spot, Jemimah Rodrigues and Amanjot Kaur played crucial knocks to help India post a challenging total before the bowlers wrapped up a clinical win.
The match, played at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo , saw India opt to bat first after winning the toss. Despite early hiccups, Rodrigues' composed 78 off 96 balls laid the foundation for a strong innings. She was well supported by Amanjot Kaur , whose aggressive 45 off 38 ensured India crossed the 250-run mark, finishing at 249 for 7 in 50 overs .
South Africa started steadily but failed to maintain momentum throughout their chase. Opener Laura Wolvaardt top-scored with 56, while Sune Luus chipped in with a handy 37. However, regular wickets kept the pressure on the visitors, and they were eventually bowled out for 226 in 47.3 overs .
Off-spinner Deepti Sharma led the bowling attack with figures of 3 for 41, while Renuka Singh and Taniya Bhatia picked up two wickets each to restrict South Africa's batting line-up.
With this win, India not only secured a sem-final victory , but also confirmed their place in the final of the tri-series , where they will face Sri Lanka or the second-placed team from the group stage.
The performance comes as a positive sign for India ahead of the ICC Women’s Championship fixtures later this year. Coach Amol Muzumdar praised the team's resilience, especially highlighting the importance of middle-order stability shown by Jemimah and Amanjot.
India’s fans will be hoping the form continues into the final, as the team looks to build consistency ahead of bigger challenges on the global stage.