Record Run-Chase Sends India to World Cup Final: Jemimah Rodrigues Shines Bright
Navi Mumbai, India: The Indian women’s cricket team has delivered a performance for the ages, shattering global records and sending the nation into raptures after securing a dramatic five-wicket victory over arch-rivals and seven-time champions Australia in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 semi-final at the DY Patil Stadium.
The victory, a triumph of resilience and nerve, has propelled Harmanpreet Kaur’s side into the World Cup final, where they will face first-time finalists South Africa.
The headline achievement of the thrilling semi-final was India’s successful pursuit of a mammoth target of 339 runs, completing the chase with nine balls to spare. This figure is now the highest successful run chase in the history of Women’s ODI cricket, eclipsing the previous best of 331 runs, which coincidentally was set by Australia against India earlier in the same tournament.
The foundation of this historic chase was laid by a remarkable 167-run partnership for the third wicket between Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and the eventual Player of the Match, Jemimah Rodrigues.
• Jemimah’s Masterpiece: Jemimah Rodrigues anchored the innings with a magnificent unbeaten 127 runs off 134 balls—her third career century and first in a World Cup. The composure and maturity she displayed under extreme pressure were widely lauded as she remained on the pitch to hit the winning runs.
• Captain’s Knock: Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was equally instrumental, scoring a fluent 89 runs off just 88 balls. Her aggressive knock provided the initial momentum needed to keep up with the daunting required run rate.
Jemimah Rodrigues’ heroic night was not confined to her batting. She also took home the prestigious Best Fielder Medal for her efforts in the first innings.
Her athleticism in the field was noted by the team’s coaching staff, who praised her sharp catch to dismiss Beth Mooney and her crucial involvement in the run-out of Tahlia McGrath, which helped restrict Australia’s total of 338. Rodrigues’ performance was a perfect testament to the team’s all-round commitment and focus.
This sensational win is a monumental achievement, especially considering the team’s mid-tournament slump, which included three consecutive losses in the group stages. The semi-final triumph not only avenged an earlier group-stage defeat to Australia but also ended the defending champions’ 15-match winning streak in the ODI World Cup, which dated back to 2017.
India now stands on the cusp of lifting their maiden Women’s World Cup trophy in their third final appearance (after 2005 and 2017). The final against South Africa, scheduled for Sunday at the same venue, is expected to be a packed, high-voltage affair, with the entire nation throwing its support behind the Women in Blue.
As the team prepares for the ultimate clash, Captain Kaur’s message is clear: “We know how it feels to lose. But we are looking forward to how it feels to win. We have done a lot of hard work, and it’s only about getting everything done tomorrow for the team.”
(Source: The Times of India)
