Jemimah Rodrigues etched her name in history with a fearless 127*, turning pressure into poetry as she powered India to their greatest-ever ODI chase against Australia in the 2025 World Cup semi-final.
The hosts complete the highest ever chase in women’s ODIs to stun Australia and book their spot in Sunday’s World Cup final.
The India women’s cricket team is scripting one of the most fearless chapters in women’s sport at the iconic DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, where the lights buzz with anticipation and hope.
Chasing a target of 339 runs against the defending champions, Australia, was not just a match but an audacious statement of intent.
With an unbeaten 127 from Jemimah Rodrigues and a swashbuckling 89 from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, India pulled off the highest successful run-chase in women’s ODI history, finishing at 341/5 in 48.3 overs.
The Build-Up: Australia Set the Scene
Australia, seven-time champions and undefeated in this tournament so far, seemed poised for another dominant knockout win.
They posted a formidable total of 338, built on the back of Phoebe Litchfield’s 119, and half-centuries from Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner. Australia appeared to be the same formidable force that has driven success in women’s cricket for years.
However, for India, what initially seemed like a familiar situation—facing a formidable opponent—turned into a remarkable feat.
India’s Chase: From Early Wobbles to Historic Finish
The chase began nervously. India lost their openers early, and it appeared Australia’s spirit might outshine the hosts once again.
Smriti Mandhana’s wicket fell at 24, and Shafali Verma departed for 10, bringing the required run rate.
After being dismissed twice in her innings, Rodrig remained resilient when it counted most, while Harmanpreet’s 89 off 88 balls set the stage for the decisive turn.
The chase’s mainstay was a 167-run partnership between Rodrigues and Harmanpreet.
After being dismissed twice in her innings, Rodrig remained resilient when it counted most, while Harmanpreet’s 89 off 88 balls set the stage.
The Indian pair successfully steered the chase away from doubt and into the realm of record books.
As the equation dropped, the crowd rose. Every boundary, every sprint between the wickets, weighed heavily with history.
When the final boundary landed from Amanjot Kaur, India erupted—and Australia’s unbeaten streak collapsed.
Records Shattered
- The highest successful chase in women’s ODI history: India’s 339 chase surpassed Australia’s own earlier feat of 331.
- Rodrigues’ 127* becomes India’s highest individual score in an ODI run chase. (Cricbuzz)
- Australia’s 15-match winning streak in World Cup knockout games ended.
- For the first time in women’s ODI World Cup history, a final will not feature Australia or England. India awaits South Africa in the decider.
Key Moments and Turning Points
- Australia’s decision to bat first paid dividends; early partnerships looked dominant.
- India’s fielding lapses—dropping Rodrigues on 82 and again on 106—proved costly. Australia’s missed opportunities haunted them.
- The innings-defining partnership between India’s best batters: calm, gritty, and explosive.
- Emotion spewed from the Indian dugout as centuries, records, and dreams converged into realisations.
The Significance and What It Means
This victory is more than a match win—it’s a cultural moment. India has demonstrated that execution, not just hope, can support championship ambition.
They transformed from underdogs to challengers, confronted the most dominant team in the women’s game, and emerged victorious.
This victory serves as a crucial lesson for Australia. Their aura of invincibility in knockout women’s cricket has been cracked—and the architects were Indian women who refused to yield.
What does this mean for the global women’s cricket scene? This match represents a significant event.
In the years to come, people will discuss this match as the evening when a chase transformed into a movement.
A generation of Indian girls will look back and believe: a big chase is possible; the big dream is alive.
What’s Next
India will face the South African women’s cricket team in Sunday’s final, and they go in with momentum, belief, and collective fire. Australia must regroup, introspect, and reinvent.
The world waits for the final in Mumbai, but tonight—it was India’s night.