Jemimah Rodrigues stars with 127 not out as India defeated Australia by 5 wickets in the semi-final at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on Thursday to book their spot in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 final.
India completed the highest-ever run chase after Australia were bowled out for 338 and the hosts chased down the target with nine balls to spare.
ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: India Vs Australia, Semifinal – Highlights
India will take on South Africa in the final at the same venue on Sunday.
How India Beat Australia?
During their pursuit of 339 runs, Australia got off to the desired start by dismissing Shafali Verma early. She managed only 10 runs off four balls, hitting two fours, before Kim Garth claimed her wicket, leaving India at 13/1. Jemimah
Rodrigues then joined Smriti Mandhana at the crease, and together they maintained a brisk pace, reaching the 50-run mark in 8.2 overs. Garth struck again, removing Smriti for a run-a-ball 24, which included two fours and a six, as she edged one to Alyssa Healy. India was reduced to 59/2 in 9.2 overs, losing their most in-form batter.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur started cautiously while Jemimah kept the boundaries flowing, taking India to 100 runs in 17 overs. The duo brought up a fifty-run partnership in just 53 balls. Promoted up the order, Jemimah made the most of the opportunity, reaching her half-century in 57 balls with eight fours. Harmanpreet played the anchor role as they continued to press on. Their partnership flourished, bringing up the 100 and 150-run stands in 99 and 140 balls, respectively. Harmanpreet completed her fifty in 65 balls, her third in 50-over World Cup knockout matches, placing her just behind Australian legend Belinda Clark, who has four such scores in six innings. India reached the 200-run mark in 31.2 overs.
As tensions rose within the Australian camp due to close calls, dropped catches, and futile appeals, Annabel Sutherland broke the 167-run stand with a poor shot from Harmanpreet, caught by Gardner at deep mid-wicket. Harmanpreet departed for 89 off 88 balls, having hit 10 fours and three sixes. India stood at 226/3 in 35.3 overs. This partnership became India’s highest in women’s World Cup knockout matches, surpassing the 137-run stand between Harmanpreet and Deepti Sharma in the 2017 semifinal against the same opponent. However, there was still much to do.
Deepti Sharma was the next to bat and showed aggression with some boundaries, but a poor call led to her being run out for 24 off 17 balls, with three fours. India was 264/4 in 40.5 overs, with another partnership cut short at 38 runs. Jemimah reached her third ODI century in just 115 balls, with 10 fours, becoming only the second Indian to score a century in a World Cup knockout match after Harmanpreet’s 171* against Australia in the 2017 semifinal.
India’s attacking intent was evident, highlighted by a massive six from Richa Ghosh over long-off, leaving them with 63 to chase in the final eight overs. Richa continued her assault, hitting boundaries off Sutherland and Gardner, and leaving India needing 34 runs in the final five overs. They reached the 300-run mark in 44.4 overs. Sutherland struck again as Richa attempted a slice and was caught by Garth, departing for 26 off 16 balls, with two fours and two sixes. India needed 29 runs in 24 balls, standing at 310/5.
Sophie Molineux’s 47th over yielded just six runs despite Jemimah hitting a boundary off the first ball, leaving India needing 23 from the final three overs. Sutherland’s 48th over eased some pressure with two wides and two fours from Jemimah, bringing the equation to 10 runs in 14 balls. India needed eight runs in the final two overs. In the penultimate over, Amanjot Singh completed the chase, leading India to victory with nine balls to spare.
Earlier, opener Phoebe Litchfield’s 119 off 93 balls was the cornerstone of Australia’s massive total of 338 all out in 50 overs in the second semifinal.
Besides Litchfield, Ellyse Perry (77 off 88 balls) provided stability during a 155-run stand for the second wicket, while Ashleigh Gardner added late fireworks with 65 off 45 balls after Australia opted to bat first.
It was a tough day for the bowlers as only young spinner Shree Charani (2/49 in 10 overs) managed to contain the flow of runs. Deepti Sharma (2/73) picked up a couple of wickets but proved expensive.
For Australia, Kim Garth (2/46) and Annabel Sutherland (2/69) were among the wickets.
IND Vs AUS – Brief Scores:
Australia 338 in 50 overs (Phoebe Litchfield 119, Ellyse Perry 77, Ashleigh Gardner 65; Deepti Sharma 2/73, Shree Charani 2/49).
India 341/5 in 48.3 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 127 not out, Harmanpreet Kaur 89; Kim Garth 2/46).
(With inputs from Agencies)
