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Women’s World Cup 2025: Jemimah Rodrigues plays a sensational innings as India achieve a record run chase against Australia to reach the final
In a performance that will go down in the annals of women’s cricket, the India women’s national cricket team produced a historic run‑chase to defeat the seven‑time champions Australia women’s national cricket team in the semi‑final of the Women’s World Cup and book a place in the final. The star of the show: Jemimah Rodrigues, whose unbeaten 127 anchored the chase and rewrote record books.
Here’s a full look at that epic match, the background, what it means for India’s women’s cricket, and what fans can look forward to.
1. Match Context: Semi‑final Showdown
The setting was intense: at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, India faced Australia in the second semi‑final of the tournament. Australia, firmly established as the dominant force in women’s ODI cricket, were aiming for another title run. India, the host nation, carried hope, expectation and pressure in equal measure.
Australia batted first and posted a formidable total: 338 for 9 in 50 overs, thanks to a brilliant century by Phoebe Litchfield and half‑centuries from Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner.
So India’s task: chase down 339 or more, for the highest successful chase ever in women’s ODIs. And they did just that — finishing 341 for 5 in 48.3 overs, with nine balls and five wickets to spare.
2. Key Players & Moments
Jemimah Rodrigues
She delivered one of the finest knocks in World Cup history: *127 (134 balls)**, hitting 14 fours, and steering India’s chase when many thought the target might be beyond reach.
“It just feels like a dream and it’s not sunk in yet,” Rodrigues said after the match.
She also opened up about her mental struggles in recent months:
“I have cried almost every day… this one was for India, not for me.”
Her innings were more than runs—they were a statement.
Harmanpreet Kaur
The Indian captain played a crucial supporting role with 89 runs, and together with Rodrigues put on a match‑turning 167‑run partnership for the third wicket.
India’s Middle‑Order and Support
Other players chipped in under pressure—Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh added impetus when required, helping India close the chase.
Australia’s Missed Chances
Australia’s batting display had been superb, yet their fielding and dropped chances proved costly. Rodrigues was dropped on 82 and again after passing 100 — reprieves that proved pivotal.
3. The Flow of the Chase
- India lost two early wickets, putting the chase under immediate pressure.
- Rodrigues and Harmanpreet steadied the innings and then accelerated.
- With 20 overs to go, India still needed a big push—but the partnership held firm.
- In the death overs, India batted with composure, finishing the job with nine balls remaining.
- The crowd at DY Patil erupted as India crossed the line — the home side had achieved something historic.
4. Records Broken & Milestones
- Highest successful run‑chase in women’s ODI cricket: India’s 339+ victory.
- In the list of top chases, India’s score now sits at the top — pushing Australia’s recent chase of 331 down a notch.
- For Rodrigues, this hundred will become a landmark in her career and in Indian women’s cricket history.
5. Why This Win Matters
A Change in Narrative
India have long had the talent, but in big knockout games the burden of expectation has weighed heavily. This victory signals a shift—belief turned into achievement.
For Women’s Cricket in India
The win is massive for visibility, for inspiring young girls, for building fan‑bases. A home World Cup, a semi‑final win of this magnitude—it all adds up to growth beyond the cricket field.
For the Team’s Legacy
This innings sets a benchmark. The Indian side no longer just aims to compete—they now push for major titles. The mindset, perhaps, has changed.
6. What Happens Next: The Final
India will face the South Africa women’s national cricket team in the final (Sunday, at the same venue) in what promises to be a blockbuster. Australia’s reign ends here, and a new champion will be crowned.
Key questions:
- Can India maintain this momentum and handle final‑match pressure?
- Will South Africa rise to the challenge?
- Can Rodrigues and the team reproduce special performances under pressure?
7. Challenges & Looking Ahead
Despite the heroics, India must remain aware of:
- Consistency: Big wins are inspiring, but consistency throughout the tournament matters.
- Depth & Injury: Fitness, bench strength, adaptability to match conditions.
- Pressure of expectation: Having achieved this, next step is even higher.
8. Fan Reactions & Cultural Impact
Social media has erupted: chants of “Jemimah! Jemimah!” dominate, memes and videos of her celebration spread like wildfire. For many, this innings is more than cricket—it’s inspiration.
“An innings for the ages,” wrote one fan on X.
“This will change women’s cricket in India forever,” echoed another forum post.
9. Final Word
In the semi‑final of the Women’s World Cup, India didn’t just win a match—they made history. Under the floodlights of Navi Mumbai, Jemimah Rodrigues rose to a level few can fathom. Harmanpreet Kaur held the innings together. The team believed, and they delivered.
For India’s women’s cricket, this may well be a turning point—where they moved from chasing respect to demanding it. For fans, it was a thrill ride. And for Rodrigues, it may be the defining innings of her generation.
This Sunday’s final is not the end—it’s the next chapter. And after October 30, 2025, the world knows: when India women chase, they chase for greatness.
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