India stormed into the finals of the Women's World Cup, sweeping past new Zealand to set up a much-anticipated clash with Australia in a repeat of the previous men's World Cup final! It was an under-par performance from New Zealand, who were looking to defend their title from the last World Cup when they beat Australia.

India were buoyed by a sixty-six run partnership between skipper Mithali Raj and Anjum Chopra in a crucial third wicket partnership that proved decisive from India's point of view. Anjum Chopra proved a valuable foil for the skipper who seemed in supreme form and made most of an easy spell from Rachel Pullar to notch a match-winning, unbeaten ninety-one. Rachel Pullar did manage to pick up four wickets including that of opener Jaya Sharma, but Raj proved invincible as India finished up on a challenging total of 204 for the loss of six wickets.

There was nothing to write home as far as New Zealand were concerned as their batting just crumbled under the pressure of the commanding Indian total. Apart from Fahey's seventy-three not out, New Zealand were really ever in a position to chase India's target for a place in the finals against Australia.

It started with the chancy run out of Aimee Mason and New Zealand soon slipped from thirteen for two to five down for ninety-eight as Sharma and Al Khader combined to wreck the New Zealand line-up, bagging three wickets apiece for their fine efforts to help India into the finals. New Zealand were never realistically in the hunt and the end came six and a half overs prematurely with New Zealand having folded on a much disappointing 164.

India though have completed a fine string of performances and the nation with a population of one billion will back them one hundred percent in the hope that come Sunday, they outdo the Australians for the coveted trophy, a feat that the men's team failed to achieve two years ago.