**Pratika Rawal Slams Maiden Women’s World Cup Half-Century Against Australia**
*By Gaurav Tripathi | Oct 12, 2025, 05:28 pm*
Star Indian opener Pratika Rawal showcased her talent once again by scoring a solid half-century against Australia in the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup match held in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. The 25-year-old batter played a composed innings, troubling the Australian bowling attack before being dismissed for 75 runs.
**A Solid Partnership with Smriti Mandhana**
Batting first in a high-voltage encounter, India got off to a flying start thanks to the opening pair of Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal. The duo put together a record-breaking stand of 155 runs, marking the first time any opening pair has scored 150-plus runs against Australia in a Women’s World Cup match.
While Mandhana led with a brilliant 80, Rawal supported with timely boundaries throughout her knock. The Indian opener eventually fell to Annabel Sutherland but left a lasting impression with her composed strokeplay.
**Career Milestone: Seventh WODI Fifty**
Rawal’s 75 runs came off 96 deliveries, featuring 10 fours and a six. This innings marked her seventh half-century in Women’s One Day Internationals (WODIs), bringing her total to eight 50-plus scores across 21 matches, including one century.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Rawal’s seventh WODI fifty lifted her career tally to 982 runs at an impressive average of 49.10. This was also her second fifty in just four outings against Australia and notably her maiden half-century in a Women’s World Cup game.
**Breaking Partnership Records**
The partnership between Mandhana and Rawal did not just set the tone for the Indian innings but also smashed long-standing records. ESPNcricinfo confirms that their 155-run opening partnership is the highest ever against Australia in WODIs.
This effort surpassed the previous record of 119 runs set by England’s Caroline Atkins and Sarah Taylor back in 2009. No other opening duo has come close to a 110-run partnership against Australia in Women’s World Cup history.
Pratika Rawal’s thrilling performance and the record-breaking stand with Mandhana highlight India’s rising prowess in women’s cricket as they continue to aim for glory in the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup.
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