Women’s World Cup 2025: Jemimah Rodrigues plays a knock for the ages as India pull off record chase against Australia to enter final

Promoted to the number three for a second time in three matches, Rodrigues batted intently from the word go, coupling singles with the odd boundary to set an early tempo to the chase.

The pair put on 46 runs for the second wicket before Mandhana fell in the unluckiest of manners – a strangle down the legside, which was reviewed and, much to her surprise, showed a spike on the replay.

A standout partnership was the need of the hour, with the building blocks already in place. Harmanpreet Kaur joined Rodrigues, and the pair went about adding more layers to the foundation. While Kaur struggled at the start, Rodrigues ensured India did not fall behind the asking rate too much. She was pacing her innings with precision, combining the singles and twos with the odd boundary.

INDIA-W VS AUSTRALIA-W WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2025 SEMIFINAL | AS IT HAPPENED

Kaur was unable to rotate strike as the dots piled up. She was searching for that one shot that would break the shackles. That came in the 16th over, when she drove Annabel Sutherland past mid-on to find some breathing space and release the pressure on Rodrigues’ shoulders.

India Women vs Australia Women Semifinal. (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)

The pair maintained a steady pace to their innings and got India to 189/2 after 30 overs. They had ensured that after a long time, Alyssa Healy and Australia had some thinking to do, with regard to entering the final.

But just when it seemed India was cantering home, the visitors found the breakthrough. Kaur, who had negotiated a sluggish start and reached an almost run-a-ball strike rate, fell while trying to clear the longer boundary off Annabel Sutherland, where Ash Gardner took an outstanding catch.

It ended a 167-run stand, full of patience, energy and hope. Deepti Sharma joined Rodrigues in the middle and used a combination of singles and excellent placement to drive the innings forward. While the former fell for 24 off 17 balls, their stand of 38 runs in 36 balls had injected fresh energy into the innings.

Rodrigues held the key when 82 were needed in 10 overs, but the pressure off her shoulders was eased significantly by Richa Ghosh, who played her role to perfection. She had the platform set for her and used the long handle to great effect, clearing the straight boundary and sweeping the spinners for fours.

But just when one thought India had the game in the bag, Ghosh fell, caught a short third man. But Rodrigues kept her head and, with Amanjot Kaur, took India home to a famous win and a place in the final.

Earlier, an outstanding knock of 119 from 93 balls from opener Phoebe Litchfield formed the bedrock for Australia, setting India a massive score to chase. India tasted early success with the ball as the returning Alyssa Healy fell cheaply for five runs to Kranti Gaud. But that was the last bit of joy they were to have for some time.

Healy’s opening partner produced an offside masterclass, peppering that side to great effect despite Kaur keeping a strong field. Litchfield was unafraid to take the aerial route, even in the early stages, and later on even reverse-swept the ball to put enormous pressure on the Indian bowlers.

She was well supported by Ellyse Perry, who could afford to take a measured approach with her partner going after the bowling. The pair put on 155 runs for the second wicket under the hot sun on a placid surface with a fast outfield.

The southpaw was eventually dismissed, bowled by Amanjot in the 28th over, and her dismissal proved to be a turning point.

The hosts began clawing their way back as Beth Mooney, Sutherland and Tahlia McGrath all fell cheaply to put a halt to the scoring rate. Left-arm spinner Sree Charani was the pick of the Indian bowlers, claiming figures of 2/49 in 10 overs. The youngster was effective from both ends and seemed to have found the right length to bowl on this surface, thereby preventing the batters from taking her on.

Her delivery to remove the well-set Perry for 77 skidded on after pitching, and was arguably the best of them all.

At 265/6 in the 42nd over, India had the chance to close out the innings early, but Gardner’s outstanding, quickfire innings of 63 from 44 balls propelled Australia in the end overs, enabling them to set India a daunting target in the second innings.

Brief Scores: Australia 338 all out in 49.5 overs lost to India 341/5 in 48.3 overs (Rodrigues 127 not out, Kaur 89; Garth 2/46).