Jemimah Rodrigues showcased her brilliance with an unbeaten 127 runs, leading India to a historic ODI chase victory over Australia in a thrilling Women’s World Cup semi-final. Rodrigues, along with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur who scored 89, shared a crucial 167-run partnership for the third wicket as India clinched the win with nine balls and five wickets remaining at DY Patil Stadium on the outskirts of Mumbai.
Amanjot Kaur struck the winning boundary, sparking jubilant celebrations within the Indian team. India’s remarkable chase of 339 runs now sets up a final showdown against South Africa at the same venue on Sunday, promising a new champion in the 50-over tournament.
This victory marked a significant achievement for India, surpassing Australia’s previous best chase record of 331 against India earlier in the tournament. Defending champions Australia faced their first defeat in the ODI World Cup in 15 matches since 2017, as India outplayed them in the semi-final clash.
Despite a shaky start at 59-2 in the 10th over, Rodrigues and Kaur weathered the storm and launched a counter-attack, thrilling the packed stadium with their partnership. A crucial moment occurred when Rodrigues was dropped on 82, a missed opportunity by Alyssa Healy, which proved costly for Australia.
Rodrigues remained composed throughout, guiding India to victory despite the dismissals of Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh. The match saw some contentious moments, including Smriti Mandhana’s controversial dismissal and Australia’s strong batting performance led by Phoebe Litchfield and Ellyse Perry.
Both teams paid tribute to the late Australian cricketer Ben Austin by wearing black armbands, adding a somber note to an otherwise thrilling contest. India’s exceptional performance now sets the stage for an exciting final showdown against South Africa.