India vs Australia Highlights — Women’s World Cup 2025 2nd Semi-Final
India stunned defending champions Australia with a world record ODI run-chase, winning the second semi-final of the Women’s World Cup 2025 by five wickets to book a final against South Africa. A masterful unbeaten 127 from Jemimah Rodrigues and a vital 89 from captain Harmanpreet Kaur anchored a historic chase of 339, sealed with nine balls to spare at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Australia were left to rue dropped catches at critical moments.
Match summary
- Australia: 338 all out in 49.5 overs (Phoebe Litchfield 119, Ellyse Perry 77, Ash Gardner 63; Sree Charani 2/49).
- India: 341/5 in 48.3 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 127*, Harmanpreet Kaur 89; Kim Garth 2/xx).
- Result: India won by 5 wickets and qualified for the final.
Australia’s innings
After choosing to bat, Australia lost captain Alyssa Healy early but recovered through a brilliant counter-attacking partnership between Phoebe Litchfield and Ellyse Perry. Litchfield raced to her maiden World Cup century off just 80 balls, putting Australia in a commanding position. Late runs from Ash Gardner pushed the total to a formidable 338, despite a middle-overs fightback from India’s bowlers, led by Sree Charani.
India’s world record chase
India’s reply started shakily with Kim Garth removing openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana within the powerplay. The game turned with a magnificent 167-run third-wicket stand between Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur. Rodrigues, who was dropped on 82 and again on 106, anchored the innings with a sublime, Player-of-the-Match performance. After Harmanpreet fell for 89, handy cameos from Richa Ghosh (26) and Deepti Sharma (24) kept the required rate in check before Amanjot Kaur hit the winning runs.
Key moments and turning points
- The Rodrigues-Kaur partnership: The 167-run stand rebuilt the innings and put India in a winning position, neutralizing Australia’s bowlers through the middle overs.
- Dropped catches: Alyssa Healy dropped a simple chance when Rodrigues was on 82, and Tahlia McGrath gave her another life on 106. These errors proved decisive.
- India’s death-overs execution: Richa Ghosh and Amanjot Kaur showed composure under pressure, finding crucial boundaries to seal the highest successful run-chase in women’s ODI history.
Top performers
- Jemimah Rodrigues (IND): 127* (134 balls) — Player of the Match for her magnificent, match-winning century.
- Phoebe Litchfield (AUS): 119 (93 balls) — A spectacular maiden World Cup ton that set a huge target.
- Harmanpreet Kaur (IND): 89 — A captain’s knock that was the cornerstone of the record partnership.
- Sree Charani (IND): 2/49 — The pick of India’s bowlers, taking key wickets in the middle overs.
What’s next
India will face South Africa in the Women’s World Cup final on Sunday, November 2, where one team will win their first-ever ODI World Cup title.
