India Beat Australia to Enter Women’s World Cup Final; Jemimah Rodrigues Smashes Historic Century

The second semi-final of the Women's World Cup 2025 was played between defending champions Australia and hosts India. India created history as they defeated Australia in this high-voltage match by five wickets, thanks to a brilliant century from star batsman Jemimah Rodrigues.

Australia won the toss and chose to bat first, thus putting up a target of 339 runs in front of India. Team India achieved the target with five wickets in hand and nine balls to spare, courtesy the great batting by Jemimah and Captain Harmanpreet Kaur. It was the highest run chase in the history of women's cricket. Jemimah was declared the Player of the Match for her brilliant innings.

When Australia scored 338 runs in the first innings, fans' morale plummeted. India had never chased even 200 runs in a World Cup semi-final. Chasing this huge target of over 300 runs seemed almost impossible. But a decision by the team's head coach, Amol Mazumdar, changed everything.

Just five minutes before the run chase, Mazumdar informed Jemimah that she would be batting at number three, not five. Jemimah herself revealed this in the post-match presentation. Jemimah said that she learned she would be batting at number three just five minutes before the match. She said, "I didn't know I was batting at number three. I was in the shower, as soon as I came out, the coach told me I was batting at number three. It's not about me, I wanted to win this match for India and take it to the finish line."

Jemima scored an unbeaten 127 runs in 134 balls, hitting 14 fours. Apart from her, Harmanpreet Kaur played a brilliant inning of 89 runs in 88 balls, hitting 10 fours and two sixes. Annabel Sutherland and Kim Garth took two wickets each for Australia.