In the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2025 semi-final, India beat defending champions Australia by five wickets and joined South Africa in the final to be played at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai
on Sunday, November 2. Earlier, at the toss, Australia captain Alyssa Healy won the toss and elected to bat first. India got a positive start as pacer Kranti Gaud took the crucial scalp of Alyssa Healy.
However, Phoebe Litchfield and Ellyse Healy stepped up and came heavily on the bowlers. Both built a 155-run partnership for the second wicket off just 133 deliveries. Litchfield went on to notch up her third hundred off 77 balls. She concluded her knock after scoring a swift 119 off 93. Amanjot kaur cleaned her up and brought her magnificent knock to an end.
Beth Mooney also contributed with her 24-run innings off 22 balls. However, Ellyse Perry refused to relent and kept on hammering India’s bowling attack. She fell against Radha Yadav after accumulating 77 off 88. Beth Mooney also contributed with her 24-run innings off 22 balls. After Perry’s fall, Ashleigh Gardner emerged as a nightmare for India’s bowlers as the veteran racked up a quick 63 off 45. Riding on her batting effort, Australia put up a massive total of 338 runs on the board in 49.5 overs despite losing quick wickets towards the end.
Jemimah Rodrigues’ batting heroics helped India chase down the mammoth target
Pursuing the target, Indialost their openers Shafali Verma (10 off five) and Smriti Mandahana (24 off 24) in the first powerplay but Jemimah Rodrigues and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur showed nerves of steel and stitched a crucial 167-run stand for the third wicket off just 156 deliveries. Harmanpreet departed after accumulating 89 off 88. Her valiant knock included 12 boundaries (10 fours and two maximums).
Jemimah Rodrigues stayed in the middle and built important partnerships with Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh. Deepti scored 24 off 17 while Richa also chipped in with her 26 off 16. Amanjot Kaur eventually struck the winning boundary against spinner Sophie Molineux and helped India complete the chase.
The Indian players and support staff rejoiced inside the dugout upon reaching the finish line before they marched on to the field to celebrate the moment with Rodrigues and Kaur. The breathtaking knock (unbeaten 127 off 134 balls) from Jemimah Rodrigues made her the recipient of the player of the match (POTM) award.
