With the innings of her life, a small Jemimah Rodrigues rose tall on the largest platform. With a record chase in Navi Mumbai on Thursday, her unbeaten 127 off 134 balls propelled India to their third Women’s ODI World Cup final and stopped the seven-time champions Australia.
With a strong 167-run partnership for the third wicket with captain Harmanpreet Kaur (89 from 88 balls, 10x4s, 2x6s), Jemimah’s knock for just her third century—and first in a World Cup—helped India end the reigning champions Australia’s 15-match undefeated streak in the competition across two editions.
India scored 341 for 5 in 48.3 overs to win with five wickets and nine balls remaining after chasing a massive 339. Jemimah spearheaded the spirited response with an amazing 127 not out from 134 balls, including 14 fours. In terms of women’s ODIs, it was the highest chase ever.
India finally managed to cross the finish line on this occasion after losing knockout games from winning situations on multiple previous occasions. It seems sense that Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who did have all those heartbreaks in the back of their minds during the run-chase, shed tears of pure delight.
India will play South Africa at the same venue on Sunday, ensuring a first-time tournament winner.
Jemimah crafted her innings in the middle, starting in the second over, with the utmost determination to keep things straightforward, consistently find boundaries, and avoid taking any chances.
In order to preserve what little energy she had left, a weary Jemimah continued to fall on her haunches until the end. She thrived on the applause of a full house at the DY Patil Stadium, bringing the hosts one step closer to that elusive crown.
When the team’s best batter, Smriti Mandhana, was dismissed in the tenth over, captain Harmanpreet could never have imagined going out to bat in front of a stunned home crowd that was stunned into silence.
Throughout their third-wicket partnership, Harmanpreet (89 off 88) and Jemimah batted purposefully and never appeared to be under pressure from the asking rate.
They benefited from a lightning-fast outfield, and when they were comfortable, Harmanpreet hit one over cover off McGrath and another off Gardner. Additionally, batting was made simpler by the late-night dew.
A crucial moment occurred in the 33rd over when Australian skipper Alyssa Healy gave Jemimah a lifeline when she was on 82, spilling a sitter when the batter received a leading edge off King while attempting to sweep.
She later received a second lifeline on 106.
After a year away, Shafali’s first ODI match lasted just five balls, during which she hit two boundaries before being pinned off a nip-backer from Kim Garth in front of the wickets.
Smriti Mandhana (24) was tightly restrained at first by Australia, but the vice-captain responded with two fours and a six down the ground.
But Mandhana’s innings ended when she was caught behind on a delivery that Garth blasted down the leg. Australia’s conviction was confirmed by a little spike on the DRS appeal.
Earlier, Australia set a target of 339 runs for India thanks to Phoebe Litchfield’s brilliant 119 and half-centuries from Ellyse Perry (77) and Ashleigh Gardner (63).
Australia may have finished with much more than they did if it weren’t for a neat third session of 3-0-9-2, in which Shree Charani (2/49) removed Beth Mooney (24) and an in-form Annabel Sutherland (3).
While the left-arm spinner showed excellent control to help India regain control, the other Indian bowlers labored on a track that provided no aid, and the hosts’ situation was made worse by a number of simple fielding mistakes.
Australia actually slowed down during Charani’s spell, going from 220 for 2 to 265 for 6 at one point. However, Gardner’s lightning-fast 63 off 45 balls, which included four sixes and an equal number of fours, propelled them over 300.
With one ball remaining in their innings, Australia were bowled out for 338.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur gave Alyssa Healy a lifeline in the third over by dropping a regulation catch. However, the captain of Australia, who had just returned to the playing eleven, fell cheaply in the sixth over.
Despite an early setback, Australia was able to reach a massive total thanks to Litchfield’s third ODI century, which came off just 77 balls.
Despite having only scored a fifty in the league thus far, the 22-year-old batted as like she was constantly in a purple patch going into this knockout match.
Litchfield explored every available space for runs, and she rarely failed to execute a stroke flawlessly.
Litchfield, a master of the reverse-sweep, walked back after believing she had hit one straight to Amanjot Kaur off Charani on the last ball of the 16th over when she was on 62. However, the umpires recalled her because the ball had struck the ground before flying into the hands of the fielder at short third man.
Three sixes and 17 fours were part of Litchfield’s excellent knock. She blasted two sixes down the ground, one on the second ball of the 27th over off Deepti Sharma, and her lofted shots over the infield in the cover area were equally impressive.
Perry hit a crucial 77 off 88 balls (6x4s, 2x6s), and Litchfield scored 155 for the second wicket before missing a lap shot from Amanjot.
India needed to play well up front on the field, but they weren’t very good.
Despite an early howler, Healy was removed by Gaud when she played one onto her middle stump in the sixth over, just before a brief rain intervention.
Healy’s early fall notwithstanding, India needed to be disciplined both with the ball and on the field. However, Deepti (2/73) had to be contend with two late wickets, Renuka failed to get the typical in-swing, and Gaud (1/58) was erratic with her lines.
