INDIA BOOKS PLACE IN WOMEN’S WORLD CUP FINAL

Jemimah Rodrigues produced a breathtaking unbeaten century as India pulled off a record-breaking run chase to defeat Australia by five wickets.

This means India will face Australia in the Women’s World Cup final. Chasing a daunting 339, India kept their cool in an unforgettable performance, led by Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who added a superb 167-run partnership that turned the game around.

Harmanpreet’s innings ended on 89 with more than a hundred still required. But Rodrigues carried on, reaching her ton off 115 balls and guiding India home with nine deliveries left.

When Amanjot Kaur struck the winning runs, the packed Navi Mumbai crowd erupted as teammates ran onto the field to celebrate one of India’s finest wins.

Australia’s missed chances proved costly. Harmanpreet survived an early stumping chance, and Rodrigues was dropped twice, including once on 82.

Alyssa Healy and Tahlia McGrath were the unlucky fielders, but India’s batters punished every mistake. Rodrigues played with authority from the start, while Harmanpreet built her innings patiently after early wickets fell.

Australia’s 338, powered by Phoebe Litchfield’s fluent hundred, once looked enough. But a mid-innings collapse cost them momentum, and India made them pay.

For all of Australia’s errors, this night belonged to Rodrigues, whose unforgettable knock has written a new chapter in Indian cricket history.

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