India inch closer to elusive women’s world title with historic win against 7-time champions Australia
India beat Australia by five wickets in the semifinal to seal a spot in the final of the Women's ODI World Cup in Navi Mumbai.
New Delhi: India defeated Australia by five wickets in the second semifinal and qualified for the final of the Women's ODI World Cup at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on Thursday, October 30. It is the highest successful run chase in World Cup history. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues played a crucial role in the run chase, helping the Women in Blue to qualify for the summit clash against South Africa on November 2.
India have qualified for the Women’s ODI World Cup final for the third time. Earlier, they finished as the runners-up in 2005 and 2017. This is the first time a 300-plus target was chased down in an ODI World Cup knockout match (Men’s or Women’s). The previous highest total had come in the 2015 men’s Cricket World 2015 semifinal; 298 runs by New Zealand against South Africa in Auckland.
Chasing the big target of 339 runs, the Women in Blue got off to a poor start, as Kim Garth dismissed Shafali Verma in the second over for just 10 runs. She removed in-form Smriti Mandhana for 24 runs and took her second wicket of the game. After their dismissal, Rodrigues stitched a match-winning 167-run partnership with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur for the third wicket.
The Indian captain was removed by Annabel Sutherland for 89 runs, but Rodrigues batted brilliantly and smacked her third ODI ton in the knockout game. The Women in Blue lost another wicket in the chase, as Deepti Sharma got run out for 24 runs in the 41st over.
Richa Ghosh also batted well and scored 26 runs off 16 balls as the Women in Blue inched closer to victory. She was dismissed Sutherland, but Amanjot Kaur played a great cameo and hit the winning runs as India chased down the target with nine balls remaining. Rodrigues scored an unbeaten 127 runs off 134 balls, and became the second batter to register a ton in a World Cup knockout run-chase, after Nat Sciver's unbeaten 148 in the 2022 final.
Australia bowled out for 338
Earlier, the Aussies got off to a disappointing start after opting to bat first in the knockout clash as Kranti Gaud dismissed skipper Alyssa Healy for five runs in the sixth over. After her dismissal, Ellyse Perry and Phoebe Litchfield forged a 155-run partnership for the second wicket.
The Indian bowlers struggled to take wickets as both batters played attacking shots. Amanjot Kaur dismissed Litchfield for 119 runs, which allowed the Women in Blue to come back in the game. Beth Mooney (24) and Sutherland (3) failed to make any big contribution with the bat. Radha Yadav removed in-form Ellyse Perry for 77 runs as Team India put more pressure on the defending champions.
Ashleigh Gardner played a stunning knock down the order, scoring 63 runs off 45 balls with the help of four maximums and four boundaries. She stitched an important 66-run partnership with Kim Garth, helping Australia to post a massive target, which India chased down comfortably. The Women in Blue will take on South Africa in the final at the same venue on Sunday, November 2.