Jemimah, Harmanpreet power India to ICC Women’s World Cup final

“Towards the end, I was just quoting a scripture from the Bible – to just stand still and that God will fight for me. I just stood there and he fought for me.” – Jemimah Rodrigues!

Featuring in her maiden World Cup, Jemimah brought back memories of her skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s iconic 171 not out in Derby eight years ago, with an epic unbeaten 127 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday to power India to the final of the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup with a five-wicket win over Australia.

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This also ended the defending champions’ 15-match unbeaten streak in World Cups. In the title clash on Sunday, the Women-in-Blue will take on South Africa, who defeated England in the first semi-final on Wednesday.

Chasing 339, India were under early pressure at 59/2 within the mandatory powerplay after Kim Garth’s potent spell removed openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana (24). Mandhana, who had steadied the start with a 50-run stand alongside Jemimah, fell to a smart DRS call by skipper Alyssa Healy, caught behind off Garth’s seam movement. Shafali, replacing the injured Pratika Rawal, showed early promise but couldn’t convert her start.

Walking in with the team in trouble, Harmanpreet joined Jemimah to script India’s revival. The pair initially focused on consolidation, negotiating Garth and Ash Gardner with caution before unleashing a calculated counterattack once the field spread. Jemimah’s fluent strokeplay through the point and cover regions complemented Harman’s measured aggression perfectly.

Once settled, Harmanpreet turned back the clock with a vintage knock — lofted drives, fierce cuts and audacious sixes reminiscent of her 2017 heroics. At the other end, Jemimah was in her elements, bringing up her fifty off 57 balls before Harman followed with a 65-ball half-century as the partnership flourished past the 100-run mark.

Australia’s frustration grew when Healy dropped Jemimah on 82 off Alana King, reminding scenes of Courtney Browne dropping Sachin Tendulkar at the 1996 World Cup. Undeterred by the drama at the other end, Harman, battling cramps under the Navi Mumbai heat, powered on to 89 off 88 balls, studded with 10 fours and two sixes, before falling to Annabel Sutherland, ending a record 167-run stand, India’s highest for any wicket against Australia in World Cups.

Deepti Sharma’s brisk 24 kept the scoreboard moving before Richa Ghosh (26) joined Jemimah to take India closer to the target. The Mumbai crowd erupted as Jemimah reached her maiden World Cup hundred off 115 balls before Amanjot Kaur completed the formalities with an eight-ball 15 to power India to the final with nine balls to spare.

Earlier in the day, Phoebe Litchfield’s scintillating century and half centuries from Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner powered Australia to a commanding 338. The early loss of skipper Alyssa Healy didn’t impact Litchfield, who took calculated risks to resurrect the innings with a breathtaking 119 off 93 balls, studded with 17 fours and three sixes, while Perry struck 77 off 88 balls and Gardner blazed 63 off 45 to provide the late impetus to Australia’s innings after the visitors elected to bat.

India failed to make the most of the overcast conditions. Kranti Gaud provided the early breakthrough, dismissing Healy (4) who returned after missing two matches due to injury, but the visitors quickly regained control through a 155-run partnership between Litchfield and Perry. The duo scored freely, with Litchfield particularly ruthless on anything loose, racing to her century with an array of cuts, drives, and reverse sweeps.

Perry, dropped early and later saved by DRS, anchored from one end, finding the gaps with precision before falling to Radha Yadav. Beth Mooney (24) chipped in briefly, but three wickets in quick succession allowed India to crawl back. However, Gardner’s explosive knock pushed Australia past 300 as she and Kim Garth (23) added 66 for the seventh wicket. Gardner launched four sixes, including consecutive hits off Radha in the 49th over, before being run out attempting a risky single. Deepti Sharma’s twin strikes in the final over (2/60) helped India pull things back slightly, but the visitors had already piled up a formidable total.

India, Australia players pay tribute to Melbourne teenager

Australia and India players wore black armbands in their ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 semi-final as a tribute to teenage cricketer Ben Austin, who passed away following an accident while batting in the nets in Melbourne.

Cricket Australia said it was “devastated” by the news, with CEO Todd Greenberg adding, “The death of a young cricketer practicing to play the game he loved is an absolutely tragic event and our hearts go out to Ben’s family, friends and teammates at this very sad time.”

“We are working with Cricket Victoria to ensure there will be appropriate recognition of Ben at tomorrow night’s T20 International at the MCG. Cricket Victoria and the broader Australian cricket community are rallying around Austin’s family and teammates, offering support during this incredibly difficult period,” a CA statement read.

Brief Scores: Australia 338(Phoebe Litchfield 119, Ellyse Perry 77, Ashleigh Gardner 63; N Shree Charani 2-49) lost to India 341/5 (Jemimah Rodrigues 127 not out, Harmanpreet Kaur 89, Richa Ghosh 26; Kim Garth 2-46) by 5 wickets.