India pulled off a historic win against Australia in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday, chasing down a record 339 runs to reach the ICC Women’s World Cup final. Jemimah Rodrigues played the innings of her life, scoring an unbeaten 127 off 134 balls to guide India to a five-wicket victory and seal a place in Sunday’s final against South Africa.
Batting second after Australia’s strong total of 338, India stayed calm under pressure. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Rodrigues built a crucial 167-run partnership that became the turning point of the match. Harmanpreet fell for 89 with more than 100 runs still needed, but Rodrigues held firm, showing grit and elegance throughout her innings.
“This is a dream come true,” an emotional Rodrigues said after the win. “Australia is one of the best teams in the world, but we believed in ourselves till the very end. I just wanted to finish the game for India.”
Australia’s Phoebe Litchfield had earlier scored a brilliant 119 off 93 balls, giving her team a strong start. But despite her efforts, India’s batting lineup proved too resilient. The hosts chased down the target with nine balls to spare, marking the highest successful run chase in women’s ODI history.
The match had its share of drama, with Australia missing key chances that proved costly. Captain Alyssa Healy missed a stumping to dismiss Harmanpreet early and later dropped a simple catch to give Rodrigues another life. “We didn’t take our chances, and at this level, that makes all the difference,” Healy admitted after the loss.
As Amanjot Kaur hit the winning runs, the packed stadium erupted in celebration. Rodrigues, overwhelmed with emotion, was seen in tears as her teammates rushed onto the field. Captain Harmanpreet praised her team’s fightback, saying, “This is one of the proudest moments for Indian cricket. Jemimah was outstanding, her composure and belief inspired all of us.”
With the defending champions Australia knocked out, India now has the chance to claim their first-ever Women’s World Cup title in what promises to be a thrilling final on Sunday.
