India Women made history at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai by chasing down a massive 339-run target to defeat Australia Women by five wickets in the World Cup semi-final. The victory marked the highest-ever successful chase in ICC Women’s World Cup history, sending India into the 2025 final against South Africa.
Jemimah Rodrigues played an unbeaten masterclass, scoring 127 runs off 134 balls, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur contributed 89 runs off 88 balls. The pair put together a match-defining 167-run partnership that kept India in the hunt after losing both openers early. For Australia, Phoebe Litchfield scored her maiden World Cup century with 119 runs off 93 balls, including 17 fours and 3 sixes.
Sources: ESPNcricinfo, India.com, ICC Official Website
Scorecard
| Team | Score | Overs | Wickets | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia Women | 338 | 49.5 | 10 | Lost by 5 wickets |
| India Women | 341 | 48.3 | 5 | Won by 5 wickets |
Top Performers
| Player | Team | Role | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jemimah Rodrigues | India | Batter | 127* off 134 balls (11 fours) |
| Phoebe Litchfield | Australia | Batter | 119 off 93 balls (17 fours, 3 sixes) |
| Harmanpreet Kaur | India | Batter | 89 off 88 balls (10 fours, 2 sixes) |
| Ellyse Perry | Australia | All-rounder | 77 off 88 balls (13 fours, 6 sixes) |
| Ashleigh Gardner | Australia | All-rounder | 63 off 45 balls (5 fours, 4 sixes) |
| Shree Charani | India | Bowler | 2/49 in 10 overs |
Source: ESPNcricinfo Full Scorecard
Key Moments
- Kranti Gaud struck early to dismiss Australia captain Alyssa Healy, providing India with their opening breakthrough
- Phoebe Litchfield and Ellyse Perry added 155 runs for the second wicket, with Litchfield racing to her century off just 77 balls
- India pulled things back by taking 8 wickets for 118 runs in the last 16.1 overs to bowl Australia out with one ball remaining
- India lost both openers early, with Shafali Verma scoring 10 and Smriti Mandhana making 24
- Jemimah Rodrigues was dropped on 82 by Alyssa Healy, and a review went her way when she was on 85, proving crucial to India’s chase
- Deepti Sharma contributed 24 runs and Richa Ghosh added 26 runs to help India cross the finish line
Match Analysis
Australia posted a challenging total of 338 after winning the toss and choosing to bat first on a surface that looked good for batting. Late fireworks from Ashleigh Gardner, who scored 63 off 54 deliveries, ensured Australia crossed the 300-run milestone.
However, India’s response was remarkable. Jemimah Rodrigues’ century was just the second for India in Women’s World Cup semi-finals or finals, after Harmanpreet Kaur’s 171 not out against the same opposition in 2017. The 25-year-old displayed remarkable composure under pressure, rotating the strike effectively and finding boundaries at crucial moments.
Together, Harmanpreet and Jemimah scored 167 runs from 156 balls to balance the semi-final. After the captain’s dismissal just short of her century, Rodrigues continued to anchor the chase with support from the lower middle order.
What’s Next
India will face South Africa in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 final on Sunday, November 2. This will be India’s chance to win their first-ever Women’s World Cup title on home soil. India ended Australia’s 15-match winning streak in World Cup matches, and will carry tremendous confidence into the final.
Australia’s unbeaten run in the tournament came to an end, denying them a chance to win a record-extending eighth Women’s ODI World Cup title. For India, the historic chase has set up a dream finale in front of their passionate home crowd.