Jemimah Rodrigues starred with a sensational 127 not out off 134 balls as India overpowered defending champions Australia in the semi-final of the 2025 Women’s World Cup and stormed to the final. India chased down a target of 339, thus rewriting the record for the highest succesfull run chase of all time in women’s ODIs.
India suffered an early blow in the chase with Shafali Verma falling in the second over, and burning a review as well. There was then a 46-run partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Rodrigues before the former was strangled down the leg side by Kim Garth in the 10th over.
However, then came an epic 167-run stand for the third wicket which came in just 156 balls between captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Rodrigues. While Australia had piled on the pressure on the Indian batters with their fielding, cracks started to appear about halfway through that partnership. The biggest of those was captain Alyssa Healy dropping a sitter off Rodrigues in the 33rd over when the latter was on 82.
Incredibly, that was not the only let off that Rodrigues enjoyed on the night. Almost exactly 10 overs later, Tahlia McGrath let a straightforward catch go right through her hands and Rodrigues yet another reprieve, this time when she was on 106.
Australia chipped their way back into the match after Harmanpreet, who had been suffering from cramps towards the end of her knock, fell on 89 off 88 balls. Deepti Sharma then seemed set to accelarate India’s march to victory but ended up being run out against the run of play on 24 off 17 balls. Richa Ghosh then came in and played a typically aggressive knock. She was dismissed by Annabel Sutherland on 26 off 16.
To be updated…
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