Jemimah Rodrigues powers India to the final after historic chase

Jemimah Rodrigues played an innings of a lifetime as India overcame Australia's mammoth total to secure a famous semifinal win in Navi Mumbai on Thursday (October 30). Phoebe Litchfield's 119, Ellyse Perry's 77 and Ashleigh Gardner's quick-fire 63 powered Australia to 338. India lost early wickets in the chase but Rodrigues (127*) and Harmanpreet Kaur (89) put on a game-changing 167-run stand for the third wicket, while the middle order batters came up with key contributions too, as the hosts got over the line in 48.3 overs with 5 wickets in hand to set up a date with South Africa on Sunday.

India's chase began promisingly as Shafali Verma, replacing the injured Pratika Rawal, started off with a couple of boundaries. But her comeback innings ended on 10 when she was trapped in front by Kim Garth in the second over. Smriti Mandhana, struggling to break free, eventually got going with a six off Garth, followed by a boundary for Jemimah Rodrigues in the same over. Mandhana and Rodrigues kept the boundaries coming regularly and were building a steady base when the left-hander was caught down the leg side off Garth, and was shocked that there was an edge, leaving India at 59/2 in the 10th over.

Rodrigues collected runs at a fair clip while Harmanpreet Kaur had a watchful start and had a lucky break as well as Alyssa Healy missed a stumping opportunity. Both batters built a steady partnership, with timely fours, as they took India past 100 in the 18th over. By the time the 25th over was completed, Rodrigues had crossed fifty, which she did when he scored a four off King, and Harmanpreet was also finding regular boundaries as they extended their partnership past 100. The Indian captain then reached a 65-ball fifty and struck her first six by going over extra cover off McGrath as India moved to 189 for 2 after 30 overs.

Harmanpreet's second six came off Ashleigh Gardner when she heaved it over midwicket and India crossed 200 in the 32nd over, matching Australia's progress in the first innings. Healy missed a tough chance in Garth's over and then put down a simple catch off King - reprieving Rodrigues both times after she moved into the 80s. Harmanpreet quickly got into the 80s and also overtook Rodrigues, while Australia lost a review in the meantime. But the partnership came to an end thanks to an excellent catch from Gardner after Harmanpreet pulled a Sutherland delivery towards deep midwicket. Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma then guided India past 250 in the 40th over, with the former closing in on a three-figure score, as the equation came down to 82 off 60.

Deepti was settling into a good partnership with Rodrigues when an attempted quick single resulted in the run-out of the former. Rodrigues then brought up a 115-ball hundred, Richa Ghosh got into the act with a six off Megan Schutt, and Rodrigues struck a four off Gardner to bring it down to 55 off 42. Rodrigues had another lucky break as Tahlia McGrath put down a catch in Sutherland's over, and Ghosh got an outside edge for a boundary in the same over. The wicketkeeper-batter followed it with a six and a four off Gardner to take India past 300 in the 45th over, with the hosts needing 34 off 30. The pair added 46 in quick time before Ghosh, trying to go over the in-field, fell to Sutherland on 26.

With 29 needed off 24, Rodrigues struck a crucial boundary off Molineux but the spinner kept it tight otherwise, conceding only 6. Rodrigues played a cheeky lap shot for a four off Sutherland to bring it to a run-a-ball 15, and then bisected the gap to cut one for another four. With 8 needed off 12, Amanjot Kaur struck a four followed by a couple off Molineux. She finished it off with a cut for a four as India registered a famous semifinal win, ensuring that there would be a new champion in the World Cup.

Earlier, opting to bat, Australia were off to a positive start thanks to Litchfield, who struck four boundaries inside the first five overs even as Healy struggled a bit to get going. The Australian captain also got a reprieve as she was put down by her Indian counterpart off Renuka Singh in the third over. But it wasn't a costly miss as Healy departed for 5 off 15, playing a Kranti Gaud delivery onto the stumps. The players left the field for a short period owing to rain and upon return, Litchfield continued positively to take Australia to 72/1 after 10 overs.

Perry gave good support from the other end and also used a review to reverse an onfield lbw decision in Renuka's over. Litchfield brought up a 45-ball fifty with a boundary off Shree Charani, and also struck a six off the left-armer in her next over while Perry cleared the ropes off Deepti as both batters took on the spinners. Litchfield was given out caught attempting a sweep but replays confirmed it was a bump ball, allowing the opener to continue. She dealt in regular boundaries, including three in an over off Radha Yadav, as the pair brought up the century stand off 86 balls. Australia crossed 150 in the 23rd over and in the following over, Litchfield registered her maiden World Cup century with a four off Shree Charani.

Australia had raced away to 159 for 1 at the halfway stage and Litchfield got a lucky break as Ghosh put down a tough catch in Amanjot's over. She then hit two sixes in a Deepti over before her fine innings ended when she was bowled by Amanjot attempting a lap sweep. Perry, who was overshadowed by Litchfield in the 155-run stand in which the centurion contributed 102, reached a 66-ball fifty. Beth Mooney began well too, adding to India's concerns, who also lost a review, as Australia went past 200 in the 32nd over. The threatening partnership was ended by Shree Charani as she had Mooney caught at extra cover and soon accounted for the wicket of Annabel Sutherland (caught & bowled) as she powered India's fightback.

Australia went without a boundary for five overs before Gaud, having conceded 49 off her first five overs, was back into the attack and Perry struck a four. But she was bowled by Radha trying a late cut as Australia, who were going strong at 220/2, slipped to 243 for 5. McGrath began with two fours off Radha in the 40th over to take Australia past 250 but she was run out in the next over.

A needless throw from Radha resulted in four overthrows as well, with India having a poor outing in the field. Gardner put Australia in a commanding position again as she hit a few boundaries and also sixes off Shree Charani and Radha en route to a brisk half-century. She hit two more sixes off Radha before getting run out in the penultimate over. Deepti bowled a tidy final over and picked up the wickets of Alana King and Sophie Molineux while Kim Garth was run out. But Australia finished with a sizable total, having scored 85 in the last 10 overs. But India had the last laugh in the contest, with Rodrigues leading the charge.

Brief scores: Australia 338 in 49.5 overs (Phoebe Litchfield 119, Ellyse Perry 77, Ashleigh Gardner 63; Shree Charani 2-49) lost to India 341/5 in 48.3 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 127*, Harmanpreet Kaur 89*; Kim Garth 2-46) by 5 wickets.