Women's World Cup: Jemimah's dashing ton helps India pull of World Record 339-run chase against Australia to set final date with South Africa

India knocked out defending champions Australia and pulled off a World Record chase to make it to the Women's ODI World Cup 2025 final.

India secure historic Women's World Cup final berth

Riding on Jemimah Rodrigues' brilliant 127 and Harmanpreet Kaur's 89 India comprehensively chased down a massive target of 339 to set up final date with South Africa. This phenomenal effort rewrote the record books, marking the highest successful run chase of all time in Women's ODIs.

Highest successful chase in Women’s ODI cricket history:

But it was Rodrigues, who stood like a rock of Gibraltar, and delivered a heroic yet unbeaten 134-ball 127 which anchored India's record.

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Jemimah-Harmanpreet's 167-run stand to India's rescue

The chase got off to a difficult start for India, which suffered an early blow when opener Shafali Verma fell cheaply in the second over, unfortunately burning a review in the process. Rodrigues then steadied the innings in a 46-run partnership with Smriti Mandhana, until Mandhana was dismissed by Kim Garth in the tenth over. This brought Captain Harmanpreet Kaur to the crease, and what followed was an epic 167-run stand for the third wicket, compiled at a quick pace in just 156 balls.

Although Australia's sharp fielding initially kept the pressure on the Indian batters, cracks began to appear in their discipline halfway through the record partnership. The biggest turning point came in the 33rd over when Australian captain Alyssa Healy dropped a crucial, straightforward catch off Rodrigues when she was on 82. Incredibly, Rodrigues enjoyed a second significant reprieve almost exactly ten overs later when Tahlia McGrath let a similar, easy catch slip through her hands, granting Rodrigues a life when she was on 106 and ensuring she could guide India to the finish line.

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Phoebe Litchfield's ton goes in vain

Earlier in the semi-final, defending champions Australia set a formidable target after electing to bat first, posting 338 all out in 49.5 overs. Their innings was highlighted by a brilliant century from Phoebe Litchfield, who, at just 22 years old, became the youngest player ever to score a hundred at a Women's World Cup by smashing 119 off 93 balls. She was strongly supported by veteran Ellyse Perry, who contributed 77, and Ash Gardner, who added a quick 63. Despite this dominance, India managed a late fightback, with Deepti Sharma (2-73) taking three wickets in the final over to curtail the Australian total just before the end.

India will now face South Africa in the Women's ODI World Cup grand finale at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, November 2.