Australia Beats New Zealand by 89 Runs at Indore in Women's World Cup

When Australia Women's Cricket Team walked onto the lights of Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on the evening of October 1, 2025, nobody expected a win by 89 runs. Yet the defending champions turned the day‑night ODI into a masterclass, posting 326/5 and then bowling out New Zealand Women for 237. The result not only stretches Australia’s lead in Group A, it also rewrites the record books with two centuries in the same match.

Match Recap: Australia vs New Zealand

The toss was won by Australia, who elected to bat under a clear sky that would later give way to a gentle breeze – perfect conditions for swing. Opening bowler Katie Mack kept the New Zealand side honest, taking 1/28 in her four overs. The real fireworks started when Ashleigh Gardner, Australia’s star all‑rounder, smashed 115 runs off just 83 balls. Her innings featured 13 fours and 6 sixes, lifting the total to a formidable 326/5 in 49.3 overs.

New Zealand’s reply was anchored by captain Sophie Devine. At 112 runs off 112 balls, Devine became only the second woman – after Belinda Clark – to score consecutive World Cup centuries. Still, the required run‑rate kept climbing, and Australia’s spinner Sophie Molineux struck back, claiming 3 wickets for 25 runs in 8.2 overs. New Zealand fell short at 237/9 in 43.2 overs, handing Australia a 89‑run victory.

Key Performances and Stats

• Ashleigh Gardner: 115 runs (83 balls), 5 fours, 6 sixes, strike rate 138.55.
• Sophie Devine: 112 runs (112 balls), 10 fours, 2 sixes, strike rate 100.
• Sophie Molineux: 3/25 in 8.2 overs, economy 2.92.
• Lea Tahuhu (NZ): 3/42 in 8 overs, economy 5.25.
• Overall run‑rate: Australia 6.58 runs per over; New Zealand 5.47 runs per over.

Australia’s total of 326 is the highest score recorded at Holkar Stadium in a Women’s World Cup match. The 89‑run margin is the biggest win in a day‑night fixture of this tournament’s history.

Implications for the Tournament

Group A now has Australia sitting comfortably at the top with five points, while New Zealand sits third after an early loss to India in Guwahati. The win boosts Australia’s net run rate (NRR) to +1.12, a cushion that could prove decisive if the points table tightens late in the round‑robin.

For New Zealand, the defeat is a setback but not a death knell. Devine’s century shows the batting order still has firepower, and the bowlers will look to tighten the death overs in their next game against Bangladesh on October 15.

Meanwhile, the host nations – India and Sri Lanka – continue to rotate venues to accommodate political sensitivities. The ICC’s decision to stage Pakistan’s matches in Colombo rather than Lahore is a direct result of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the men’s Champions Trophy earlier this year.

Geopolitical Context and Venue Logistics

The tournament’s schedule, announced by the International Cricket Council on June 16, 2025, was tweaked on August 22 to reflect the India‑Pakistan tension. Sri Lanka now hosts all of Pakistan’s fixtures, including the third match on October 2 in Colombo where Bangladesh bowled out Pakistan for 129.

Holkar Stadium, with a capacity of 30,000, has become a focal point for the women’s game. The venue has previously staged the 2022 men’s T20 World Cup semi‑finals and the 2019 women’s ODI series between India and England. Its state‑of‑the‑art floodlights turned the evening match into a visual spectacle that drew an estimated 22,000 spectators, many of whom were first‑time viewers of a women’s World Cup game.

ICC CEO Geoff Allardice praised the seamless coordination between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). “We’ve seen unprecedented cooperation to keep the tournament on track, and the fans have responded with amazing energy,” he said in a post‑match interview.

Looking Ahead: Upcoming Fixtures

Australia’s next challenge arrives on October 12 when they face India in a high‑stakes clash that could decide the Group A winner. The match will be played at a venue yet to be announced, but expectations are already sky‑high. New Zealand, meanwhile, will try to bounce back against Bangladesh on October 15 at the same Holkar Stadium – a chance to reset their NRR. The tournament will continue to roll through October, with semi‑finals pencilled in for October 29‑30 and the final slated for November 2. The final’s location – either Bengaluru or Colombo – hinges on whether Pakistan reaches the knockout stage, an outcome that would keep the political narrative alive right up to the championship.

Key Facts

• Match date: October 1, 2025, 7:30 PM IST
• Venue: Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
• Australia 326/5 (49.3 overs) – Ashleigh Gardner 115
• New Zealand 237/9 (43.2 overs) – Sophie Devine 112
• Result: Australia won by 89 runs