Jemimah's epic ton powers India past Australia into Women's World Cup final
IN one of the most extraordinary nights in women’s cricket, India pulled off the impossible — chasing down a record 339 to defeat defending champions Australia by five wickets at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai and storm into the Women’s World Cup final.
At the heart of it stood Jemimah Rodrigues, who played the innings of her life — a breathtaking, unbeaten 127 off 134 balls that turned dreams into destiny on Thursday.
When the pressure was at its peak and the shadows of Australia’s dominance loomed large, Rodrigues’ composure and poise stood out. Her masterful innings, supported by captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s authoritative 89 off 88 balls, ensured India not only chased down the mammoth target but did so with nine balls to spare.
With the win over Australia, India have qualified for the Women’s ODI World Cup final for the third time; they finished runners up in 2005 and 2017.
Historic chase: India’s successful pursuit of 339 is the highest-ever chase in women’s One-Day Internationals, rewriting the record books.
This was the first time a 300-plus total was chased down in an ODI World Cup knockout - Men’s or Women’s. The previous highest had come in the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2015 semifinal: 298 by New Zealand vs South Africa in Auckland.
Breaking the Australian jinx: After years of heartbreak at the hands of Australia, India finally flipped the script — and in the grandest of settings.
Rise of a new generation: Rodrigues’ maturity and confidence symbolise a fearless new era for Indian women’s cricket.
Inspiration beyond sport: The win reflects the growing strength, resilience, and ambition of India’s women athletes, resonating far beyond the boundary lines.
Australia’s power start, India’s stronger response
Earlier, Phoebe Litchfield’s commanding 119 off 93 balls, Ellyse Perry’s steady 77, and Ashleigh Gardner’s explosive 65 powered Australia to an imposing 338. It was a daunting total, built on dominance — but India had other plans.
Rodrigues rises as India’s new hero
India’s pursuit of the record target began cautiously. Shafali Verma opened with intent, cracking Kim Garth through the covers for a crisp boundary in the second over, but her stay was short-lived as she was trapped leg before off the very next ball.
Smriti Mandhana, the leading run-scorer of the tournament before the semifinals, too fell early — edging a leg-side delivery to the wicketkeeper for 24. That left India wobbling at 59 for two, with Jemimah Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur tasked with rebuilding the innings.
The pair steadied the ship with composure and precision. Rodrigues was the more enterprising of the two, reaching her half-century in 57 balls with a boundary off Alana King in the 21st over. Kaur, who had scored 70 against England earlier in the tournament, adopted a more measured approach, bringing up her 22nd ODI fifty off 65 deliveries as India reached 189 for two after 30 overs — still 150 short of the target.
The tension lifted when wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy dropped Rodrigues off King, a miss that proved costly. On the very next delivery, Kaur cut King past point to raise the 150-run stand, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
Australia fought back briefly, with King and Sutherland tightening the screws. Kaur’s dismissal — a lofted shot brilliantly caught by Ashleigh Gardner off Sutherland — broke the partnership at 226 in the 36th over.
Deepti Sharma’s brisk 24 kept the momentum alive before she was run out with nine overs remaining. Rodrigues, meanwhile, powered ahead, completing her third ODI century off 115 balls — a masterclass laced with ten fours. She enjoyed a slice of fortune on 106 when Tahlia McGrath dropped a straightforward catch, but by then, India had seized full control.
Richa Ghosh’s cameo of 26 from 16 deliveries further eased the chase, though her late dismissal added a brief flicker of tension. With 29 needed off the last four overs, Rodrigues remained unflappable, threading three more boundaries in quick succession. Amanjot Kaur, calm at the other end, struck the winning runs with nine balls to spare, sealing one of India’s most memorable victories in women’s cricket history.
The winning moment
When Amanjot Kaur pierced the field with the winning shot, the floodgates of emotion burst open. Jemimah sprinted towards her partner, arms wide, eyes glistening — and soon, the entire Indian team enveloped them in a jubilant embrace. Smriti Mandhana reached them first, laughter and tears blending in a moment that captured what years of toil and heartbreak had built toward.
The stands erupted. The tricolour fluttered. For once, it was Australia’s turn to watch in disbelief.
Highest match aggregates in Women’s ODIs
781 - IND-W vs AUS-W, Delhi, 2025
679 - IND-W vs AUS-W, Mumbai DYP, 2025 WC
678 - ENG-W vs SA-W, Bristol, 2017 WC
661 - IND-W vs AUS-W, Visakhapatnam, 2025 WC
651 - IND-W vs SA-W, Colombo RPS, 2025
A watershed moment for women’s cricket
This victory was more than a win; it was a statement — that India can, and will, rise on the grandest stage. For years, Australia had been the immovable mountain. Tonight, that mountain moved.
Longest winning streaks in Women’s WC
15 - Australia (2022-2025) - streak ended today
15 - Australia (1997-2000)
12 - Australia (1978-1982)
11 - New Zealand (1988-1993)
10 - England (1993-1997)
*Australia’s previous defeat in the World Cup was also against India: in the 2017 semi-final in Derby.
Rodrigues’ innings will be remembered alongside the greats — not just for its beauty and precision, but for its context. This was her first ODI World Cup, and she carried India to their first-ever World Cup final berth with an innings of rare grace and grit.
“Last year, I was dropped from the World Cup. This year, I came back thinking, okay, I’ll give it a try. I was in good form, so I wanted to build on that. But things kept happening one after another, and a lot was beyond my control. I was fortunate to have amazing people around me who believed in me,” 25-year-old Jemimah said after the semifinal match.
Harmanpreet’s leadership, calm and commanding, underpinned a side that no longer plays with fear or deference. The young guns — Charani, Ghosh, Deepti — all played their parts in a team that now exudes belief.
This match may well be remembered as the turning point — when Indian women’s cricket stopped chasing dreams and began living them.
The road ahead
India now face South Africa in the final — a clash that could deliver the country’s first Women’s World Cup crown. But even before the final ball is bowled, this semifinal will be remembered as the night when Indian women’s cricket found its heartbeat — and showed the world its fire.
The India vs South Africa final will take place on November 2 at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The match will start at 3 PM IST.
