Jemimah Rodrigues starred with an unbeaten 127 off 134 balls as India chased a record 339 to defeat defending champions Australia by five wickets in the Women’s World Cup semifinal.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur contributed a crucial 89, while Deepti Sharma (24) and Richa Ghosh (26) added key support to help India finish the chase with nine balls to spare. India will now face South Africa in the final, aiming for their maiden World Cup title.Earlier, Australia posted 338, anchored by Phoebe Litchfield’s explosive 119 off 93 balls, supported by Ellyse Perry (77) and Ashleigh Gardner (63).
Only young spinner Shree Charani (2/49) managed to restrict runs, with other Indian bowlers struggling on a flat track and fielding lapses compounding the challenge.
Despite Australia’s strong total, India’s disciplined batting, guided by Rodrigues’ brilliance and support from Kaur, enabled a historic win, marking one of the highest successful chases in Women’s World Cup history. The win showcases India’s ability to perform under high-pressure knockout conditions.
