India stun Oz in record chase, enter final

Tears of joy, warm hugs and the Indian women’s team prevailing over the six-time world champions Australia — the evening at DY Patil Stadium was filled with emotions, tense moments and finally, happy faces for India.

Jemimah Rodrigues, who had been battling anxiety before the start of the tournament, went on a rampage and smashed an unbeaten 127 off 134 balls, with 14 boundaries, as India handed Australia their first defeat of the tournament — and a big one — in the semifinal, while chasing down a massive 339-run target.

“It was important for me to see India win. I didn’t celebrate my half-century or century, but I finally had a sigh of relief after we won and entered the final,” said Jemimah. Recording the highest-ever chase in the tournament’s history, the Indian women began on a shaky note, but Jemimah, alongside Harmanpreet Kaur (89), staged a perfect finish. It turned out to be India’s biggest victory over their ace rivals, with nine balls to spare. The team will now face South Africa at the same venue on November 2.

This will be the third time, after 2005 and 2017, that the Indian women’s team will play a World Cup final.

It was Jemimah’s third century and her first in a World Cup, built on a solid 167-run partnership for the third wicket with skipper Harmanpreet. The win was extra special as it ended Australia’s 15-match unbeaten run in the competition across two editions. At 59/2 inside the powerplay with their top two back in the pavilion, India looked vulnerable, that was that moment where this team had botched up from winning positions not too long ago. But Jemimah was given a lifeline in the 33rd over by Australian captain Alyssa Healy when she was on 82, and the Indian batter made full use of the opportunity. She survived another chance on 106.

Earlier, Phoebe Litchfield’s scintillating 119, along with half-centuries from Ellyse Perry (77) and Ashleigh Gardner (63), helped Australia post a 339-run target against an Indian side that was sloppy in the field.