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| @Jemimah's emotional reaction after winning the match vs Australia in WWC Semifial 2025 |
On 30 October 2025, at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai, India, took one of the most dramatic chases in the history of women One-Day Internation by defeating Australia by five wickets and made its way to the final of the 2025 Women World Cup.
Match Context & Build-Up:
Prior to the match, Australia was the obvious favourite. They were the leagueleaders and they were riding on the wave of an undefeated streak.
India on the other hand had fallen on earlier occasions in the tournament by losing match after match and were under a massive task.
The hosts had little opportunity of competing with the seven time champions. The will and support of home fans in India gave weight to their challenge though.
Australia Innings: Setting a Massive Target
- Australia was the winner of the toss and it chose to bat first, as it wanted to ensure that it made India pressurized at the very beginning.
- A scorching century was their support, the century of Phoebe Litchfield, who knocked 119 off only 93 balls, 17 fours and 3 sixes.
- The old hand, all-rounder Ellyse Perry, contributed slightly with 77 and Ashleigh Gardner demolished a light 63.
- Australia posted 338 all out. It was an enormous amount--one which most of their opponents could not even follow.
- In the case of India the objective was straightforward: to pursue 339 and to win. Such chases are extremely infrequent in the ODI of women cricket.
India's Chase : A Story of Composure and Brilliance
The scope of the task was clear when India strolled into the bat. The first couple of wickets did not help the situation either: opener Smriti Mandhana was dropped at an early stage, and the middle order was under pressure.
And here, in turn, come Jemimah Rodrigues and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, and they stabilized the innings. Rodrigues made a gorgeous unbeaten 127 to lead the chase.
Harmanpreet also made a strong contribution of 89 supporting the anchor and taking the game to the limit.
Key turning moments:
- At the 30-35 over mark, the two formed a huge partnership (167 runs) which ended up placing momentum on the side of India.
- Australia also committed some fielding mistakes: one of the most costly mistakes was a lost catch on Rodrigues.
- Even when the necessary run-rate increased to over 7 per over, India remained calm. They took rotations of strike, had limits at opportune times, and did not give Australia too much of a break.
- India hit the target with nine balls left in the end. A pursuit of 339 which will be long remembered in women’s cricket.
Significance of the Win:
This triumph has several implications:
- In the case of India, it is a massive morale booster to beat Australia, the defending champions and a cricketing powerhouse in such a large platform.
- It shows that the game of the women is changing: great scores, huge pursuits, and exciting conclusions.
- The win has historical weight in the fact that it was a record chase in the women ODIs. Earlier similar pursuits were very few.
- The win prepares India to the final of the tournament: an opportunity to take the World Cup.
This will be a bitter pill to swallow in the case of Australia. They managed to set a tremendous overall but failed to counter. It emphasizes that no one can rest on its laurels even in the best of teams in contemporary cricket.
Stand-out Performers:
- Jemimah Rodrigues: 127* — fearless, calm, match-winning. Her pressure knock will be to be remembered years on.
- Harmanpreet Kaur: 89 - the captain rose to the occasion and laid foundation and made sure that India remained in pursuit.
- Phoebe Litchfield: 119 -on the losing side, her century was sublime and powerful.
- The support of the whole Indian middle-order: although the primary headlines are handed to Rodrigues and Kaur, other people gave their input in partnering up the pressure and keeping the chase on.
- Fielding & misplaced opportunities: Australia misplaced at least one key catch of Rodrigues. These are in large matches and such margins count.
- Confidence is reflected in the decision that India took in a big chase and has put their trust in their top-order and middle-order.
- The choice by Australia to put up the scoreboard pressure on India by deciding to bat first (as they won the toss) was logical. But the bowling/orchestrated defence was not able to support it.
- Pitch at DY Patil seemed to be in favor of batting, the rhythm of the scoring depicts that it was hard to score 339, though the intent was possible.
- Dealing with pressure: A loss of wicket in the first few overs might have killed India. Yet their reunion is a sign of temperamental development.
- History counts: the previous encounter of the two during the league stage (where Australia had set a huge target against India) must have provided a situation and a boost to India.
- India is now in the final of the Women world cup. They bear faith and favorable surge.
- Even in high stakes pursuits where great totals are at stake, Australia will have to re-evaluate, now that they know that they can be beaten despite putting a big start on them.
- To the women cricketing in general: games such as these are used to gain exposure, motivate the young cricketers and to create a story about being competitive and excellent.
- It will be discussed not only within India but also worldwide - a precedent: “Should India be able to pursue 339 in the semi-final, anything is possible.
After the match, Jemimah Rodrigues said " it just feels like a dream and it has not sunk in yet ".
Brief scores: 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.