The Indian Women’s Cricket Team created history on Thursday by defeating defending champions Australia in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 semifinal at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai. India pulled off the highest successful run chase in Women’s ODI history, chasing down 339 runs with nine balls to spare to secure their spot in the final for the third time.
Led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, India won the match by five wickets, delivering one of the greatest victories in the nation’s women’s cricket history.
India Women Script Historic Win Against Australia
The Indian Women’s Cricket Team created history on Thursday by defeating defending champions Australia in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 semifinal at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai. India pulled off the highest successful run chase in Women’s ODI history, chasing down 339 runs with nine balls to spare to secure their spot in the final for the third time.
Led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, India won the match by five wickets, delivering one of the greatest victories in the nation’s women’s cricket history.
Jemimah Rodrigues Shines as India’s Hero
The star of the evening was Jemimah Rodrigues, who played a stunning unbeaten knock of 127 runs, guiding India to a memorable win. She became the first Indian woman to score a century while chasing in a World Cup knockout match, and only the second Indian overall, after Harmanpreet Kaur’s 171 vs Australia in 2017.
Jemimah’s emotional reaction after the win — sitting on the field with tears of joy — reflected the magnitude of India’s achievement.
“I’m thankful to my parents and the fans. I got to know only five minutes before that I would bat at No.3. Playing in Navi Mumbai, in front of such a crowd, was special,” Jemimah said after the match.
Record-Breaking Run Chase
India’s 339-run chase not only became their highest successful chase in ODIs, but also the largest successful chase ever in a Women’s World Cup knockout. It was also the first time in cricket history (men’s or women’s) that a team chased 300+ runs in a World Cup knockout match.
Top Successful Run Chases in Women’s ODIs:
| Score | Team | Opponent | Year | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 339/5 | India | Australia | 2025 | Navi Mumbai |
| 331/7 | Australia | India | 2025 | Visakhapatnam |
| 302/4 | Sri Lanka | South Africa | 2024 | Potchefstroom |
Historic Partnership Between Jemimah and Harmanpreet
Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur stitched a match-winning 167-run stand for the third wicket, the highest partnership by India in a Women’s World Cup knockout game.
The previous best was 137 runs between Harmanpreet and Deepti Sharma during the 2017 World Cup.
Australia’s Big Total and Key Performers
Batting first, Australia posted 338 runs in 49.5 overs, powered by Phoebe Litchfield’s century.
The 22-year-old opener smashed 119 off 93 balls with 17 fours and 3 sixes, becoming the youngest player (22 years, 195 days) to score a century in a Women’s World Cup knockout match.
The combined total of 679 runs made this the highest aggregate in Women’s World Cup history, surpassing the 678 runs scored in England vs South Africa (2017).
Other Major Records from the Semifinal
- India’s Third World Cup Final:
This will be India’s third appearance in the Women’s World Cup final after 2005 and 2017. They were runners-up on both previous occasions. - Australia’s First World Cup Defeat in 8 Years:
The loss ended Australia’s 15-match winning streak in World Cups — their first defeat since the 2017 semifinal, which ironically also came against India. - Most Sixes in a Women’s World Cup Edition:
The 2025 World Cup has now seen 124 sixes, breaking the previous record of 111 sixes set in 2017. - Australia’s Most Centuries in a Single Edition:
With six centuries this tournament, Australia now hold the record for most hundreds in a single Women’s World Cup, surpassing England’s tally of five (1996 & 2017).
It was a night to remember for Indian cricket fans. From Jemimah Rodrigues’s emotional hundred to India’s fearless chase, this semifinal will be etched forever in history. The Women in Blue not only stunned the world champions but also sent a strong message ahead of the World Cup Final, where they’ll look to bring home their first-ever world title.
