Jemimah Rodrigues produced a career-defining knock as India pulled off a remarkable chase to beat Australia in the semifinal at Navi Mumbai on Thursday (October 30). Australia, led by Phoebe Litchfield’s 119, Ellyse Perry’s 77, and Ashleigh Gardner’s brisk 63, piled up 338.
Despite early setbacks, Rodrigues (127*) and Harmanpreet Kaur (89) steadied the innings with a crucial 167-run partnership for the third wicket. Valuable contributions from the middle order then guided India to victory in 48.3 overs with five wickets remaining, booking their spot in the final against South Africa on Sunday.
Australia setup a massive target
Australia, electing to bat first, got off to a strong start courtesy of Phoebe Litchfield, who struck four boundaries within the first five overs even as Alyssa Healy found it difficult to settle in. The Australian skipper had an early life when she was dropped by her Indian counterpart off Renuka Singh, but the reprieve didn’t prove costly as Healy fell for 5, chopping Kranti Gaud onto the stumps. Rain briefly halted play, but once the game resumed, Litchfield continued from where she left off, driving Australia to 72 for 1 at the end of 10 overs. From the other end, Ellyse Perry lent solid support and used the DRS to overturn an on-field lbw decision, stabilizing the innings alongside Litchfield.
Litchfield’s fifty came off just 45 balls, laced with boundaries and a six off Shree Charani, while Perry too began to find her rhythm, attacking the spinners. The opener had a lucky escape when she was wrongly declared out attempting a sweep, as replays confirmed a bump ball. Taking full advantage, Litchfield kept the scoreboard moving briskly, hammering three fours in a single over off Radha Yadav. The duo reached a century partnership off 86 deliveries, and soon after, Litchfield marked her maiden World Cup hundred with a boundary off Charani. At the halfway mark, Australia were cruising at 159 for 1, but fortune briefly favored Litchfield again when Richa Ghosh dropped a difficult chance off Amanjot Kaur’s bowling.
Litchfield’s stellar innings finally came to an end when she was bowled by Amanjot attempting a lap sweep, finishing with a magnificent ton. Perry, who had played second fiddle in their 155-run stand, continued strongly and reached her fifty in 66 balls. Beth Mooney then added to India’s worries as she looked fluent from the start. However, Shree Charani pulled things back for India, dismissing Mooney and Annabel Sutherland in quick succession to halt Australia’s momentum. From a commanding 220 for 2, Australia suddenly found themselves at 243 for 5, as Perry’s dismissal to Radha Yadav’s late cutter triggered a mini-collapse.
Despite India’s brief comeback, Ashleigh Gardner reignited Australia’s charge with a counterattacking innings full of boundaries and towering sixes, especially off Radha and Charani. Even though fielding errors, including four overthrows from Radha, didn’t help India’s cause, they managed to tighten up at the end. Gardner reached a rapid half-century before being run out in the penultimate over. Deepti Sharma bowled a disciplined final over, claiming two wickets, while Kim Garth was run out. Thanks to Gardner’s onslaught, Australia added 85 runs in the last ten overs, finishing with a formidable total. However, India would later have the final say, chasing it down with Jemimah Rodrigues anchoring one of the most memorable pursuits in recent history.
Jemimah Rodrigues leads India into the finals
India’s chase began on a lively note as Shafali Verma, returning to replace the injured Pratika Rawal, opened with a couple of crisp boundaries. However, her comeback was short-lived as she was trapped lbw by Kim Garth for 10 in just the second over. Smriti Mandhana took time to find her rhythm but eventually opened up with a powerful six off Garth, soon followed by a boundary from Jemimah Rodrigues. The pair looked to build momentum with regular hits to the fence, but Mandhana’s innings came to a surprising end when she was caught down the leg side off Garth, leaving India at 59 for 2 in the 10th over.
Rodrigues kept the scoreboard ticking with confident stroke play, while Harmanpreet Kaur started cautiously, benefitting from a missed stumping by Alyssa Healy. The duo soon settled in, rotating strike effectively and punishing loose deliveries, taking India past 100 in the 18th over. Rodrigues reached her fifty with a boundary off Alana King and continued to dominate spin, while Harmanpreet grew in confidence, reaching her own half-century off 65 balls and launching a six over extra cover off Tahlia McGrath. Their growing partnership helped India move to a strong 189 for 2 at the 30-over mark.
As the chase advanced, Harmanpreet continued her aggressive approach with another six off Ashleigh Gardner, taking India past 200 in the 32nd over — almost matching Australia’s scoring pace. Healy then dropped Rodrigues twice, once off Garth and later off King, allowing the Indian batter to inch closer to her century. Harmanpreet also moved into the 80s but perished after mistiming a pull shot to deep midwicket, where Gardner took a sharp catch off Sutherland’s bowling. Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma kept the chase under control, guiding India beyond 250 after 40 overs, with Rodrigues nearing her hundred and the target now down to a manageable 82 off 60 balls.
Deepti was run out while attempting a risky single, but Rodrigues stayed composed, bringing up her century off 115 balls. Richa Ghosh played an important cameo, lifting Schutt for a six and following it with more boundaries off Gardner, taking India past 300 in the 45th over. Despite losing Ghosh for 26, Rodrigues ensured the chase remained steady with well-placed boundaries off Molineux and Sutherland. With 8 runs needed from 12 deliveries, Amanjot Kaur sealed the deal in style, cutting Molineux for a boundary to complete India’s stunning semifinal win. The victory not only ended Australia’s dominance but also guaranteed a new champion would be crowned at the Women’s World Cup.
Scorecard: Australia 338 in 49.5 overs (Phoebe Litchfield 119, Ellyse Perry 77, Ashleigh Gardner 63; Shree Charani 2-49) lost to India 341/5 in 48.3 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 127*, Harmanpreet Kaur 89*; Kim Garth 2-46) by 5 wickets.