‘Australia were 30 runs short...’: Jemimah Rodrigues on how she planned India’s historic run chase in Women’s World Cup 2025 semifinal tie

India star batter Jemimah Rodrigues revealed that she knew that the Women in Blue would defeat Australia in the semifinal clash of the Women's ODI World Cup 2025 at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

Australia were 30 runs short vs India: Jemimah Rodrigues

Rodrigues who played the knock for her life against Australia in the do-or-die clash, believed Australia were 30 runs short of their potential total based on their start and felt confident that the runs would come if she could stay at the crease.

Jemimah who failed to get a good start in the Women's ODI World Cup 2025 with just 65 runs in four innnings, including two ducks and was dropped for the match against England in the league stage, played an unbeaten match winning 127* in 134 balls (with 14 boundaries) knock that helped India chase down 339 runs, the highest-ever run-chase in women's ODI cricket and in the knockout matches across both men's and women's ODI World Cups.

ALSO READ: Jemimah Rodrigues explains how Harmnapreet Kaur's wicket during Women's ODI World Cup 2025 semifinal clash vs Australia was 'like a blessing in disguise'

ALSO READ: 'Australia soch rahi thi ek aur semi-final hai...': Pant, Sehwag to Tendulkar cricketing fraternity lauds India's epic run chase to qualify for final

"I think when we saw this score, the team's thought was that, against New Zealand in 49 overs, we had scored 341, against Australia in Vizag, where we had scored 333. So, we knew we had done it against this team, and I felt that with the way Australia started, they were 30 runs short - given the way they were going, considering the start they got. So, I knew they were 30 runs short, and DY Patil is such a pitch, any score is chaseable. So, I just knew that all I - my thought process was that I just had to be there, because the runs will come, but I need to be there to get those runs," Jemimah Rodrigues told the media.

India vs Australia semifinal highlights

Coming back to the semifinal clash, after opting to bat, Australia skipper Alyssa Healy failed to get a good start, but Phoebe Litchfield (119 in 93 balls, with 17 fours and three sixes) and Ellyse Perry (77 in 88 balls, with six fours and two sixes) put up a 155-run stand for the second wicket.

After Litchfield's wicket, India made a comeback, reducing Australia to 265/6. However, a 66-run stand between Ash Gardner (63 in 45 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes) and Kim Garth (17) took the Aussies to 338 runs in 49.5 overs. India's Shree Charani (2/49) and Deepti Sharma (2/73) were the pick of the bowlers with two scalps each and Amanjot Kaur, Kranti Goud and Radha Yadav took a wicket each.

While chasing, India lost two wickets on just 59 runs as openers Shafali Verma (10) and Smriti Mandhana (24 in 24 balls, with two fours and a six) were dismissed after getting a steady start. However, Jemimah and Harmanpreet shifted to the momentum of the game to reduce pressure from the hosts.

Richa Ghosh (26 in 16 balls, with two fours and two sixes) and Amanjot (15* in eight balls, with two fours) played important cameos, supporting Jemimah as the run-chase was completed with five wickets and nine balls in hand. India will now face South Africa in the final on November 02 at the same venue.