India vs Australia Highlights, Women’s World Cup Semifinal: Jemimah Rodrigues’ ton helps INDW beat AUSW by 5 wickets, reach WC final

India beat Australia by five wickets to reach the finals of ICC Women's World Cup 2025 final at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday. India Women vs Australia Women Highlights: A century for ages by Jemimah Rodrigues led the India women’s team to a historic five-wicket win at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on Thursday over Australia, as they qualify for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 final. Earlier, Pheobe Litchfield’s fiery ton alongside blazing half-centuries from Ellyse Perry and Ash Gardner powered Australia to a mammoth 338 in 49.5 overs and set India the highest-ever target in the World Cup knockout match. Coming into the crucial clash, Australia were unbeaten in the tournament, and the only game they did not win was against Sri Lanka, which ended as a no result due to rain. India, on the other hand, has finished in fourth place in the group stage after facing defeats to South Africa, Australia, and England. The winner of the clash between India and Australia will face South Africa in the final on Sunday, who have thumped England in the first semifinal on Wednesday. India’s previous game at the same venue has been washed out, and there is a prediction of rain on Thursday as well, and if we were to have a similar situation, ICC has allocated a reserve day for the result. India Women (Playing XI): Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Amanjot Kaur, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh(w), Radha Yadav, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh Thakur Australia Women (Playing XI): Phoebe Litchfield, Alyssa Healy(w/c), Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt Jemimah Rodrigues: "I want to thank Jesus, because I couldn't do this on my own. I know he carried me through today. I want to thank my mom, my dad, my coach, and every single person who just believed in me throughout this time. It was really hard these last four months, but it just feels like a dream and it's not sunk in yet. (when she got to know she was going to bat 3) I actually did not bat at three. I was still at five while taking a shower. And when the discussion was happening, I just told them, let me know. So just before entering in, I got to know I'm batting at three. But I didn't think about me. It was not for me to prove a point. It was just for me to win this match for India because we've always lost in certain situations. And I just wanted to be there to be able to take us through. (on her non-celebration on the 100) Today was not about my 50 or my 100. Today was about making India win. I know I got a few chances, but I just feel like God has given everything at the right time and he grew it into the right intention, pure intention." Jemimah Rodrigues starred with a sensational 127 not out off 134 balls as India overpowered defending champions Australia in the semi-final of the 2025 Women’s World Cup and stormed to the final. India chased down a target of 339, thus rewriting the record for the highest succesfull run chase of all time in women’s ODIs. India suffered an early blow in the chase with Shafali Verma falling in the second over, and burning a review as well. There was then a 46-run partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Rodrigues before the former was strangled down the leg side by Kim Garth in the 10th over..... India had gone only with four specialist batters in this semi-final match against Australia. With two of their specialist batters scoring a hundred and a fifty respectively, the ploy has worked in India’s favour to knock out seven time champions Australia with the record run chase. The highest successful run-chase in women’s ODIs was achieved by Australia as they scored 331 against India earlier in this World Cup. Making the highest successful run-chase today, India has knocked India has knocked out seven time champions Australia. 8 needed off 12 deliveries. Sophie Molineux with her seventh over. FOUR! Amanjot clears the in-field, starts the over with a boundary and the equation is: 4 off 11 now. Amanjot lofts the What a game this has been. What a chase this has been for India. The highest successful chase in Women's ODI, highest successful chase in World Cup knockout (across genders). India will face South Africa in the final, where both the teams will eye their maiden title. GAME CHANGING OVER! Jemimah Rodrigues, you are amazing. She has turned the entire game. For the first time in the innings, the required rate has come under 6RPO. She hit two fours off Sutherland to make it a 15-run over. Nitin Sharma writes, "14 wides and a total of 25 extras is what Australia have given in this innings. They cannot afford to give more free runs to India at this moment with India now needing 15 runs off 15 balls." Shankar from the venue: In all the little while I have India 331/5 in 48 overs; Need 8 off 12 Sophie Molineux returned in the attack in place of Gardner. An over which started with a boundary ended with only six coming off it. Australia keeping it very tight. Vinayakk writes: Richa Ghosh falls on 26 off 16. 29 needed off 24 balls for India. For those who know this team, a heartbreak is on the cards. For those who believe, a win could change it all. What a finish. Now make it 23 off 18 as Molineux bowls a clutch over. 23 off 18 balls. India 316/5 in 47 overs; Need 23 off 18 balls Sutherland with her 9th over. WICKET! Anti-climactic end. This is still not over. Richa Ghosh departs while trying to cut the outside off ball but offered a straight-forward catch to Kim Garth at short third. Richa Ghosh c Kim Garth b Sutherland 26(16) Shankar from the venue: A tap on her back from Rodrigues as an annoyed Ghosh walks off. You'd have to believe she has done her job here. Rodrigues needs to take India home. India 310/5 in 46 overs; Needed 29 off 24 balls India had scored 27 runs off the first five overs in this innings. They need 34 runs in the last five overs of this match to seal the spot in the final. Can the duo of Jemimah Rodrigues and Rocha Gosh take India past Australia’s total? Or Australian bowlers can defend that? Gardner continues. Richa Ghosh, you beauty! She is turning the tide for India here. First, a massive six over cow corner and then a slog sweep over mid-wicket. She made this a 14-run over as just 34 left to win in 30 now. RRR less than seven. India 305/4 in 45 overs; Need 34 off 30 Slippery hands! Australia, who have been excellent in the field today, have dropped Jemimah's catch this time. The centurion tries to loft it over mid-off but Tahlia McGrath was at the crime scene here. Ghosh added salt to the wounds by slicing one at short third for a boundary. 7 from this over. India 291/4 in 44 overs; Need 48 off 36 balls Jemimah Rodrigues continues to hurt Australia here. A boundary to start the 43rd over as she brings out her reverse sweep against Gardner. Nice comeback from Gardner who only gave four off her last five deliveries. India 284/4 in 43 overs; Need 55 off 42 In the 61 women’s ODIs played between India and Australia including today’s match, Jemimah Rodrigues’s hundred today is only the eighth time that an Indian batter has scored a hundred against Australia in a Women’s ODI. TON! Jemimah Rodrigues finally brings up her well-fought, well-timed and well-deserved century. What a knock this has been from her, under pressure, she has kept India's hopes alive almost single-handedly. Take a bow, Jemi. You've been a fighter for India today. SIX! Wow, Ghosh muscles it down the ground to get full six runs. 12 from this over. Vinayakk writes: At the end of 42 overs, after a Richa Ghosh six, the win predictor shows 50% to Australia and 50% to India. India 276/4 in 42 overs; Need 63 off 48 balls Well there you go, wasn't far off our general calculation. Dinesh Karthik confirms on air that Australia's fielding at this point has saved 19 runs (difference around 20). Against England, match which they lost by four runs in this World Cup , India needed 62 runs off the last ten overs but fell short by four runs losing three wickets in the last ten overs. Here India needs 75 runs in last 9.1 overs with Deepthi Sharma now being run-out. WICKET - RUN OUT! Jemimah stepped out and flicked it behind square and by the time the ball reached to Kim Garth at backward square leg, Jemimah was already halfway across the strip and Deepti was considerably slow and was well short of her mark. Fourth wicket down as Richa Ghosh comes in at No. 6. India 264/4 in 41 overs; Need 75 off 54 balls Vinayakk writes, "82 runs needed of 60 balls. You could make a case that the difference of 22 here is easily down to Australia's ground fielding. Even more. Some sensational diving stops all through the night." Meanwhile, Nitin Sharma reminds, "Australia scored 85 runs in their 9.5 overs to reach the total of 338. India are 257 for 3 at the end of 40 overs and need 82 runs in 60 balls with seven wickets in hand. Can they go the distance?" Australia have been top-notch in their fielding. Barring that Healy's dropped catch, they have been nearly spotless in the field and have saved at least 30 odd runs to keep the pressure on India. The scoring rates have gone down as the last 10 overs have fetched 68 runs. India: 257/3 in 40 overs; Need 82 off 60 balls Deepti Sharma has been sent above Richa Ghosh for some reason. She has to anchor the innings while rotating the strike. She makes it better by hitting Sutherland for a boundary to start the 38th over on high. Seven from this over as the RRR still hangs around 8. India: 241/3 in 38 overs; Need 98 off 72 balls Harmanpreet Kaur falls. The captain stepped up in a knockout match. A fine knock that helps in a famous win? She has that one already in her locker. Or another fine knock in a heartbreaking defeat against Australia again? There have been a few of those from her bat too. Shivani Naik writes, "And Harman is India captain. All of India is her backyard 😅 Lots of work still to do." And, she has jinxed it! Harman, who looked out of sorts in the last few deliveries, perhaps tired and drained after batting for over two hours. She looked to clear the deep mid-wicket region but could not generate enough power in it, Sutherland with a brilliant running-diving catch ends this innings for Harman. Deepti Sharma has joined Jemimah in the middle. Kaur c Gardner b Sutherland 89(88) The unbroken third-wicket partnership of 166 runs between Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues is now the highest partnership for any wicket for India against Australia in Women’s ODIs. They surpassed the 157-run partnership by Poonam Raut and Mithali Raj made at Bristol in the Women’s world Cup in 2017. How much more can the Indian duo add tonight? Meanwhile, Shivani Naik pings, "Do not forget - Jemi is Mumbaichi mulgi. This is her backyard." Alyssa Healy can take a lot of credit for Smriti Mandhana’s wicket early in the Indian run-chase. Firstly, for the sheer class of wicketkeeping. The gather down the leg side against a pacer was just world class glovework. And then, she was confident enough to call for the review when she wasn’t receiving too much support from others. It was a potentially match-winning moment for the Australia captain who didn’t have a good day with the bat in hand on her return to the side. But then came a moment she’d like to forget, in the 33rd over. Rodrigues’ sweep took the top edge, and Navi Mumbai waited with bated breath. And then came a deafening roar as the ball slipped out through the gloves. A barely believable miss from one of Australia’s greatest ever. Skipper Harman has caught up with Jemimah in terms of individual runs. Her change in approach, which is resulting in boundaries, is keeping India in the hunt for the finals in Navi Mumbai. Jemi, meanwhile, escaped a close LBW call which the Australians challenged but the wickets were missing. India 226/2 in 35 overs; Need 113 runs from 90 deliveries WOW. WHAT A MOMENT IN THE MATCH. A top edged sweep from Jemimah as King forces the false shot. Both King and Healy go for the catch but this is clearly the keeper's call. And then Healy drops a clanger. India breathes a sigh of relief, Jemi must not be believing her luck. The 150-run partnership comes up in that over with two fours as well. Shankar from Navi Mumbai: A deafening roar when that catch was dropped. A 3-run over from Sutherland, India perhaps mindful of the fact that they jave to regroup after the break. Alana King from the other end. Healy has gone to her two big wicket-takers, this is an important roll of the dice. Nitin Sharma: Australia were 193 for 2 at the end of 30 overs but lost three more wickets in the next ten overs before Ashleigh Gardner took them over 300. India were 189 for 2 at the end of 30 overs and Harmanpreet Kaur had stepped up the tempo now. A couple of sixes from Harman just before that drinks break. Healy goes to Sutherland after the drinks break, Australia still would fancy their chances here but there would be some nerves even for the champions here. ANOTHER MAXIMUM! Harman looking strong, looking dangerous. Shimmies down the track, goes for a big heave over deep mid-wicket. India nears the 200-run mark. The RRR has dropped to 7.42 which was touching 8 not so long ago. Shankar from the venue: Both sixes - over cover and now over long on- Kaur has targetted the short boundary. You'd have to think runs on that side of the ground will continue a lot of importance from here. Harman is on the move now. Gets towards the line of the ball, hits it over extra cover for a good-looking maximum. After 30 overs, India are 189/2. The last 10 overs have been the most productive with 73 coming off the last 60 balls. The chase is on! Under pressure, Harman stands tall! A single in the 29th over off Gardner brings up her hlf-century in 65 deliveries. She has soaked all the pressure and has been a saviour for India until now. Great fightback from her and Jemi. Moving over this for India. First, a leg byes boundary and then Harman nonchalantly flicks the ball on leg, bringing 100-run stand between her and Jemi for the third wicket. This has been a really good fightback from the Indian side. They just need to keep the tempo up. 14 off the over. Shankar from the venue: These two have maintained a steady pace to the innings. But strike rotation still leaves a lot to be desired. Harman can't afford to play out as many dots as she is currently. Jemimah has batted very well and got the boundaries at the right time. At some stage, they will need to target one bowler in this attack. India's dot ball percentage lies a little above 54 per cent. To give context, Australia's dot ball percentage was 46. Meanwhile, the required run rate has crossed 7.5. 194 needed in 26 overs. These Jemimah Rodrigues performances as much a credit to her as they are a blot on the management. By the way, how good was that fielding effort from Phoebe Litchfield. A dive for the ages. And if anyone was going to catch that, it was her. She has been known to pull off some blinders. Shankar from the venue: India are just a bit behind the asking rate which has gone past the 7-run mark. It hasn’t helped their cause that they pile on the dots, each time they hit a boundary. Strike rotation as important as boundaries and sixes to chase this score down. These two are rebuilding steadily. It's too early to freak out over Strike Rates. This for me, was the greatest Men's World Cup innings in a chase. Yes, men's and women's games are different. But the Strike Rate acceleration is a thing. It compounds. Slow starts till you get your eye in, find the groove, can be made up, later in 50 over games. Some like Jemimah will stay busy, but those like Smriti, Pratika or Harman can crank up S.Rs as they settle in. It's crucial to stay on long enough, without driving yourself bonkers on over-by-over S.R. With 339 to chase, you are in the 7-ish RRR orbit, anyways. No point stressing over it in tiny doses. Harmanpreet Kaur started the 19th over with a boundary off Alana King but ended up playing five dot deliveries before Jemimah added three more dots in the The drizzle has reduced considerably, says Dinesh Karthik on comms. The match, fortunately, continues without any stoppages. India have gone past the 100-run mark after Sophie Molineux erred in line and ended up giving five wides to India. Our man on the ground, Shankar, has confirmed that the rains have arrived at the venue. Will we see any stoppages? "It has started to rain at the ground." Shankar pings from the venue: Attendance today till 8 p.m. - 34651 Dangerous Alana King is in the attack for the very first time tonight. Strike rotation is going to be key in the middle overs against the Aussie tweakers. Dot balls have been India's biggest problem, and they would really need to look after the required run rate. Oh no, big opportunity missed from Healy! Harman was way out of the crease but Healy missed this time. Three singles and a double off the third delivery mean India fetch five from King's first over. BOUNDARY! Back of the length, slightly outside offstumps and Jemimah positions herself deep into the crease, plays the cut very late to beat the deep backward point fielder. Sixth four for Jemimah in this innings and she is looking in great touch under extreme pressure. FOUR MORE! First for skipper Harman. Full-length ball, in the middle from Sutherland and driven between extra cover and mid-off by Harman. Nine from Sutherland's second over. Shankar from the venue: It is that three letter word again that continues to push India back a bit: dot. Jemimah is looking in good order out there, but Harman needs to her bit as well. Asking rate has just gone above the 7-run mark. Jemimah has done considerably well after the dismissal of Mandhana. She is making sure that skipper Harman gets time to settle in the middle without letting the run rate going down. A boundary both in the 11th and 12th over off Sophie Molineux and Annabel Sutherland keeps the run rate above 6 at the moment. India managed 60/2 from the first 10 overs. Nitin Sharma: At the end of first power play, Australia were 72 for 1. India are 60 for 2 at the end of ten overs. Can captain Harmanpreet Kaur guide her team to scaling this mammoth target? Shankar from the venue: It was in a chase of 289 runs that Harman produced her best innings of the tournament so far. A run-a-ball 70 where it felt like she had done a nice session of yoga or meditation before walking out to bat. That is the exact mindset India will need her to be in tonight. Shankar from the venue: A wicket at the worst possible time and in the worst possible way for India. These two batters were laying a fine, measured foundation in this chase. Mandhana falls, but what a World Cup she's had. The onus now on the captain. WICKET! THAT TOO A MASSIVE ONE FOR AUSTRALIA! Smriti Mandhana in total disbelief. A wide that was given by the on-field umpires has been overturned as the referral shows faint nick from Mandhana as she has been strangled down leg. Healy with a wonderful take behind the wicket and a great review from the guests as well. Pin drop silence at DY Patil Stadium. Batting second, Indian team’s highest successful run-chase in Women's ODIs against Australia happened against Australia in Mackay in 2021, where the Indian team chased a target of 265 with three balls remaining for the loss of eight wickets. Shafali Verma played a knock of 56 runs during that run-chase. Can Verma do the same against Australia to pull off a record run chase against Australia in women’s ODI. Ellyse Perry (who pulled off a stunning fielding save in a tight run-chase in the 2023 T20 WC semifinal against India for those who still remember) showing she is still one of the best outfielders in the world after all these years. At the other end of the spectrum, young Phoebe Litchfield with a stunning save too. Australia already in the positive for saving runs on the field when India were generously negative. First change in the bowling attack from skipper Alyssa Healy. Ash Gardner comes into the attack in place of Megan Schutt. Shankar from the venue: Gardner bowling to the right-hander from the dressing room with the shorter side on the onside. Australia have 2 fielders there but Jemimah has the chance to use the angle and get runs on that part of the ground. BOUNDARY! Glorious drive from Jemimah. Plays on the up, perfect timing, beautiful shot to get a boundary here. This takes India over 50. Shankar from the venue: This issue of striking a four and then playing a few dots on the trot has plagued India right through the World Cup. They cannot hope to chase this score down with such an approach tonight. India are not far behind the mighty Australia at this point. The Women in Blue have managed 44 off the first seven overs while Australia were six runs ahead of the home side. Kim Garth continues in the attack, bowls her fourth over. Jemimah continues the 'one boundary off the over' trend; scoops Garth behind for a four. Shankar from the venue: India get the over they needed to keep up with the asking rate. It does feel they will need one boundary every over to stay in the hunt of chasing this score down. And Mandhana listens to Shankar. She gets that one boundary of the over by playing a late cut at short third. Six runs off Schutt's fourth over. Smriti Mandhana changes the gear. Much-needed from the elegant lefty who shows positive intent as she takes on Kim Garth to start with over with a big six over long-off. Jemimah joins Mandhana, places her flick past mid-wicket for a four to help India get 11 off this over. Nitin Sharma with his interesting titbit: Australia's total of 338 is the fourth highest total in the women’s ODIs between Australia and India. India’s highest total in a winning tie against Australia is 292, which they had scored batting first against Australia in the second women’s ODI at Mullanpur. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side need to do something special to march into the final of the World Cup today evening. Megan Schutt with her third over. FOUR BYES! Straight up misses everything as Mandhana goes for a wild slog. Shankar from the venue: India would have taken that boundary in whatever form or manner. The pressure was increasing on Mandhana and that four would help ease things a bit for this over. India are playing way too many dot deliveries and it might result in added pressure here. Shankar continues: The dots are piling up. India not helped by the fact that Australian fielders are really in close to prevent the singles. Jemimah gets off the mark with a single in Kim Garth's over. Megan Schutt continues from one end and only leaks just three from her second over. Shankar from the venue: What a great opportunity for Jemimah to bat in a position where her coach Prashant Shetty told The Indian Express, she bats at her best. A big chase with a lot overs to spare gives her a chance to play a defining innings. Jemimah Rodrigues has joined Smriti Mandhana in the middle and will look to straightaway get into the zone as India cannot afford to lose any more impetus early on. They have already gotten off to a bad start with the wicket of Verma. Shankar from Navi Mumbai: Australia have a slip and a gully in place when the bowler runs in from the dressing room end. They only have a slip in place when the ball is being bowled from the comm box end. Shankar from Navi Mumbai: Shafali does not make the impact India were looking for. Misses a full ball on middle and leg. India lose a review on top of that. Early dent at the start of the chase. The replacement of Pratika Rawal could hold her fort for only five deliveries and departed after scoring just 10. Not an ideal start for India. Perfect one for Australia. Shafali Verma lbw b Kim Garth 10(5) A confident start for Shafali Verma, who opened her account with a boundary off the very first ball she faced. Earlier, Mandhana opened with a single off the second delivery. It was a productive over for India to start the proceedings with eight coming off the first over of Megan Schutt. Alana King comes in to this match behind a 7-wicket haul against South Africa, the first ever in this tournament’s history. grew up in Melbourne, Australia. Her parents, Leroy and Sharon, were born in Chennai and then migrated to Melbourne in the 1980s. As most Aussie kids do, she just wanted to be just outside playing “all the sports under the sun” and was constantly trying to find ways to play sports both in and outside of school. “My cricket career started in the backyard, which quickly moved to the front yard after me and my brother broke too many pot plants and a couple of windows as well. My brother initially got me out because I was bowling to him all the time, but the roles quickly reversed as I started to get him a fair bit,” King had told cricket.com.au. King has been to India on multiple family trips. Before the five-match T20I series that was played in Navi Mumbai and Mumbai, King told AAP: “A few family friends might be making the trip,” King told AAP. “There are a few in Mumbai. Hopefully, I get to see them and they get to see me play in the flesh. That will be cool. When I do speak to them, it is like nothing has changed, and that could be a few months apart. And that would be cool for them to see me play cricket. am sure WhatsApp will start blowing up close to the game.” 1. Try and target the shorter boundary from the word-go. It would help Shafali Verma if she gets to bat from the comm box end with that boundary towards her offside. 2. Try and stay at par with the RR by rotating strike. Wickets in hand aided by some dew could keep them in the chase. 3. Try and play more straighter and behind square along with targetting the shorter boundary. All set for the chase! Megan Schutt has the new ball for Australia; Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma open for India in a 339-run chase. Shankar from the venue: Australia have a slip in place with a gully as well for Mandhana. Just a slip for Verma Rate that shot out of 10 👇✍🏻#phoebelitchfield became the youngest player to score a century in an ICC World Cup knockout match! (Men or Women) #cwc25 Semi-Final 2 👉 IND v AUS 👉 LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/H6FmcwTyRj pic.twitter.com/k9nuReZ5tV Shankar Narayan from DY Patil: India bowl Australia out for 338. At 193/2 after 30 overs, it seemed like 360-370 was on the cards. Then at 265/6 it seemed like Australia might end up with a score around 320. In the end, they get a score in between both of them. A tall order in front of the hosts in the chase. A mammoth total all said and done. "We would have taken this at the start of the day, we left a few runs there but glad to go over the 330-mark," Litchfield says. Australia chased down 330 for the world record in women's ODIs earlier in Vizag. India would have to go bigger than that too. Well, at one stage it looked like Australia would get to 370 (when Litchfield was going berserk). Then at one stage, India looked like they have pulled things back well. And then Gardner threatened 350... eventually Australia finish with a mammoth 338. A run out in the last over as Garth tries coming back for a second run. Kim Garth run out (Amanjot Kaur/ Richa Ghosh) 17 (17 balls) AUS: 338 all out in 49.5 overs One brings two for Deepti and she has two in two balls. She has bowled a full ball around the pads and Molineux. plays all around it. Bowled. Sophie Molineux b Deepti Sharma 0 (1 ball) Deepti Sharma finally has a wicket on what has been a tough afternoon for her. Flights one up slow outside offstump, and it is not given out as King plays a slog. India review... and it is a rare successful review. Alana King c Richa Ghosh b Deepti Sharma 4 (4 balls) Alana King comes in and shows why she is probably the best No 9 in the world. Four to finish that over. Shankar from Navi Mumbai: India get the wicket, but what an innings from Gardner. 63 off 44 balls has deflated India from a position where they looked like restricting Australia to around 320. Well, that will help India chase maybe 10 runs fewer. Gardner smashes two sixes at the start of the 49th over. Radha fires one in full and there is confusion between the two batters. Garth initially sent Gardner back to keep her on strike but they stand in the middle to have a meeting, and India manage a run out. Ashleigh Gardner run out (Kranti Gaud/Richa Ghosh) 63 (45 balls) Shankar from Navi Mumbai: How India would love to have an asset as good as Ash Gardner in their line-up. The other day she was rescuing Australia from the doldrums against England, today she has played quite possibly a match turning, quickfire 50. Add 10 overs with the ball and you have the ultimate utility player. The fifty of the partnership for the 7th wicket comes up off just 35 balls as Deepti errs with her lines again, going down towards the leg side and easy pickings for Gardner. It's been a tough old night for Deepti Sharma. 70 runs in her 9 overs and she'd still have to come back for the 10th over presumably. Gardner on the charge! That's another massive six over deep midwicket, Gardner is one of the most dangerous finishers in the game and she is showing why. AUS 311/6 after 47 overs as Radha's over goes for 11 runs. Amanjot comes on and bowls a gift to Gardner on the pads, easily put away for four. The 300 comes up with still 4 overs to go and Gardner in the middle. Shankar from the venue: India bleeding runs as this partnership has got Australia back on track to getting a score closer to the 325-330-run mark. Wickets again the need of the hour Gardner seemed like she mishit that shot but it sailed over the deep midwicket fence for six! Some power there. But it marks the end of a fine spell from Sree Charani, who registers superb figures of 2/49 from her 10 overs. Just four singles in Deepti's over as Australia inch closer to 300. You felt Gardner might take Deepti on in that over with the favouable matchup. But Deepti managed to not give her the room to free her arms. A lot of what Australia will get from here on will depend on Gardner. She needs to stay till the 50th for Australia to get 330-340 mark, which still will be many for India, considering this is a final. And as the first innings has shown here India has to get a good start in the powerplay. McGrath falls cheaply yet again. India have been superb in the last 10 overs. A chance to try and prevent Australia from batting out the 50 overs. Tahlia McGrath hasn't been among the runs in this tournament, but with only 10 overs to go has the chance to play a defining knock. The noticeable thing here is that as the ball got softer, hitting has become a tad bit tougher. The ball is taking a bit of turn, especially for those spinners who are giving revolutions to the ball. Australia have to play this phase smartly here as they might end up doing all the good work Litchfield has done. Radha Yadav does the job. India continue to peg Australia back. Perry tries to cut the ball, but it skids on and the batter misses and is bowled. A fine knock from the veteran though. N Shree Charani’s quick rise from Women’s Premier League to the Indian team has its roots in her uncle’s mid-day hobby of playing cricket. Kishore Reddy worked at the Rayalseema Thermal Power Station (RTPC), which is about 35 km away from his native place, Yerramala Palle, a small village in Kadapa district. He used to stay at his uncle – Charani’s father – Chandra Shekar Reddy’s place in the RTPC quarters. (Read more from Tanishq Vaddi) The last boundary came in the final delivery of the 34th over. India have pulled things back well, with Charani leading the way. The wickets are coming now for India. That was a soft dismissal as Sutherland gives a simple return catch to Sree Charani. However, the depth in this team is scary and India can ill afford to take it easy, just yet. Here’s how Ian Bishop called Pheobe Litchfield’s sensational century in the ICC Women’s World Cup semifinal against India at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday. “The phenom named Phoebe went viral on social media at the age of 16, batting in a nets session. And six years later, she brings up her first World Cup hundred, a semifinal knock of the highest class.” (Read more) A wicket India needed, with another stand growing. Mooney falls trying to hit an inside out shot over the longer boundary,. but mistimes it and is caught by Rodrigues at cover. The one thing India will need to do well while batting is use the shorter side of the ground to great effect. They have tried protect that side of the ground as well as they can, yet Australia have dominated with the bat. Smriti and harman having a chat even as Amanjot begins another over At the end of the 15th over during England’s batting innings in Indore on Sunday, when drinks were called on the field, Harmanpreet Kaur’s frustration was evident. She was caught on camera, gesturing to Richa Ghosh, using her palms back and forth between her ears, to keep her attention fixed on the line of the stumps when keeping wickets. Because, at the start of the over, Kranti Gaud bowled a terrific in-dipper to Tammy Beaumont which zoned in on the England opener’s legs. The ball thudded into the front pad and trickled down to fine leg – usually a sign the ball is sliding down. But in Beaumont’s case, because of her age-old weakness against the incoming deliveries, she was moving across significantly and playing almost with an off-middle guard. Gaud turned to the umpire and pleaded for a favourable call, but that was about all the interest India showed in that dismissal because Ghosh was busy chasing after the ball as England ran two leg byes. (Read more from Vinayakk Mohanarangan) What a waste of a review. Wonder what Ghosh saw from behind to even tell her captain and the rest of her teammates. But in some ways, it sums up India's day. That was the only way India looked like getting Litchfield out. A sensational knock on the big day. The sixth bowler does the job. Nitin Sharma: Prior to the World Cup, when Australia posted their highest ever total of 412 runs against India in women’s ODIs in the third ODI at Delhi, they were placed at 178 for 2 at the halfway stage. Beth Moneey scored a fluent 138 in that match with Elysee Parry scoring 68 runs. Today, Australia are 159 for 1 at the halfway stage with Mooney yet to come to bat. Will Australia surpass the record score of 412 runs today? It has to be seen Harman and Deepti having a brief chat after that straight six from Litchfield. India in a lot of bother here Aged 22y 195d, she is the youngest to hit a century in a Women’s WC knockout game, and the second-youngest for Australia in the competition’s history Needs to be reminded that India have not picked the 2nd off spin option in Sneh Rana today. Whether Shafali comes on or Harman bowls a few overs to try and get that second wicket remains to be seen. What a magnificent knock. An offside masterclass. India have not looked like getting Phoebe Litchfield out today. Things looking very ominous for the hosts. Shafali Verma did bowl during training. Wonder if an over or two might be incoming soon. For the 2nd time today, Amanjot merely used to change ends. Radha Yadav bowling from the dressing room end now. India have had to deal with outside edges of those kind going for boundaries as well, today. There hasn't been a section of the offside which Litchfield has not scored a boundary in. India needs to find a way to get a breakthrough here. The way Australia are batting here in the middle, this score can be anything. Litchfield is in her 90s here. She has been peppering that offside boundary throughout the day, and India continued to feed her in that region. India re in a bit of a pickle here. Ghosh, Yadav and Harman come together for a chat after that over. India have a lot to think on how to go about stemming the flow of runs. You could see that shot coming. There is no pace on the ball and with a strong offside field in place, the paddle was a useful option to go for. The one boundary in the over that has been so consistent just keeps coming from different areas of the ground As the record for most sixes is broken, what’s the story behind the evolution of six-hitting in the women’s game? More in our interview here: Vinayakk Mohanarangan talks to Julian Wood Smriti Mandhana having a word with Radha Yadav on the way to the other end. RECORD: Before the drama of the Phoebe Litchfield out or not out scenes, a significant shot. As she danced down the ground and hit one over extra cover, it was the 112th six of the World Cup, the most in a single edition of the tournament's history. Well, we have had an incident here. Litchfield reverse-swept one, which did go to the fine-leg, and Sree Charani, the bowler and the Indian side claimed the wicket, and the on-field umpire gave it out; however, they have decided to check that as Litchfield was walking back and the ball bounced after Litchfield swept one. So the right decision was made at the end. The excitement doubles down in the venue as Litchfield survives the umpire's review. India in need of a second wicket with this stand looking increasingly threatening. Vinayakk: Phoebe Litchfield loves batting in India. She has scored 575+ runs at an average of 72.00 at the moment with a century and total of six 50-plus scores in just 10 innings. Her record in Australia is 396 runs in 14 innings at an average of 33. She also has six 50-plus scores against India, more than any other opponent. A brilliant knock. India have kept a 6-3 offside field, almost right through the innings for Litchfield. But she has taken the bait and gone over the top as well as pierced the field comfortably. Only two overs of spin so far but Harman has got both Charani and Deepti from the right ends and with more fielders on the shorter side, there is a comfort factor for the bowlers even if they look to hit it with the spin Well, well, that partnership has flown. Litchfield and Perry have put on a 50-run stand in no time. After the wicket of Healy, India had the opportunity to take a break, control the emotions and stick to some accurate bowling, which did not happen. They kept bowling deliveries outside the off-stump, who kept peppering that side of the fence for boundaries. Perry taking her time to settle in. This is an opportunity for India to keep her on strike and pile up the dots. The line a lot straighter for her Litchfield has got to a flyer here. She is playing quite a magnificent innings here. This is a very quick start for Australia. While there has been some moment on offer, India has sprayed the ball all over at times and they are paying for their inaccuracy as of now. They need to pick Litchfield here the way she is batting if she continues to stay till the 30th over Australia might be looking to post a massive total. India paying the price for bowling it full outside off stump and Litchfield making the most of it. Has been an offside exhibition so far. This has been good from India after the break, barring that unnecessary overthrow. Ghosh comes up for Renuka. Litchfield has not missed a single chance to pounce on anything wide. India might be better off bowling straighter at her. Perry has walked into the middle. The sun is shining bright here again. It will be interesting to see how that spell of rain will have an impact on conditions and the ball. Kranti Gaud has found her length here. She is bowling nicely. The sun is out, there are even blue clouds emerging from behind and the Indians are making their way in again Play to resume at 3:40, no overs lost THE DAY after Kranti Gaud wins the player-of-the match award for her three wickets against Pakistan in the ICC Women’s World Cup game in Colombo, her family in Ghuwara, a nagar panchayat in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, receives the ultimate honour. The narrator at the ongoing Shiv Mahapuran Katha in Ghuwara praises Kranti, India’s newest 22-year-old pace sensation, from the dais in front of a 5,000-strong congregation. “Sirf Ghuwara ko iss beti pe ghamand nahin hai, aaj pure Bharat ko iss beti pe ghamand hai (Not just people in Ghuwara, the entire nation is proud of Kranti),” says “Maharaj ji” Vipin Bihari, a popular preacher in Bundelkhand who has clocked a lakh subscribers on his YouTube channel. (Read more from Nihal Koshie) Vinayakk: Kranti Gaud dismissed Alyssa Healy thrice in three matches in the recent bilateral series. And then Healy went after her in Vizag. The Aussie captain spoke in the PC about wanting to ‘lock into a contest’ with Kranti in Vizag and she had done just that, targetting the Indian pacers in that run-chase but especially not letting Kranti settle in. And now in the semifinal, Kranti provides the big early breakthrough! It’s the wobble seam, the ball came in just a little bit and Healy’s defence is breached. Big roar from Kranti. The rain has stopped and it's suddenly gotten bright now. Covers still on Healy falls but it has started to rain heavily at the stadium. The groundstaff rush in with the covers. Mihir Vasavada: There's a big dark cloud hovering over the stadium and it's gotten very gloomy here and windy. The crowd in the lowest tier have rushed in to find seats in the shaded areas... And it's started pouring. Just as india got the first wicket Vinayakk: After her epic century against India in Vizag when Australia registered a record run-chase, Alyssa Healy spoke about her shaky form. "If you've been watching me in the nets, it's been a frustrating experience because I feel like I've had no rhythm whatsoever, been struggling to find it, and I didn't really know where it went before I came into the World Cup. But I think once you step out on the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you kind of just lock into getting in the contest.” Today, she has looked tentative and edgy and that dropped catch might just be the kick she needed to get going again. Remember, she loves batting against India at the World Cups. The Indian and Australian women’s teams wore black armbands during their high-octane ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 semifinal clash at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday as a tribute to Ben Austin, the 17-year-old Australian cricketer who passed away on the cricket field on Thursday morning. Teenager Ben Austin succumbed to his injuries and died, which he sustained in the cricket nets earlier in the week. The aspiring cricketer hailing from Melbourne was hit by a ball thrown by the wanger (A device to throw the ball before the game). Austin, although he was wearing a helmet but was not wearing a stem guard, head of Cricket Victoria Nick Cummins confirmed. “The ball hit him in the neck in a similar accident that Phil Hughes suffered 10 years ago,” Cummins said. (Read more) With Healy looking rusty, Litchfield clearly being the more aggressive of the two batters. Still very cloudy overhead, but no rain yet India have set a stronger offside field in the early stages of the match. For the RHB from where we are sitting, the leg side boundary is bigger. What a massive letoff and so early into the semifinal. It seemed like Harmanpreet Kaur tried to celebrate a second or two early instead of holding on to the ball. Healy has a looked a bit rusty so far. We are done with the opening over here. There is a bit of swing and seam moment on offer for Renuka Singh here, first up. But she has not been as accurate to the right-hander Healy as to the left-hander Phoebe. If India has to make the most of the conditions, it needs to get their accuracy right. Kranti Gaud has taken the ball from the other end, and more or less it is the same; she has to hit the right lines and lengths to extract the help that is on offer. It will be interesting to see how India uses their three seamers in today's game. Mihir Vasavada: Both teams are wearing black armbands as tribute to Ben Austin, the Australian cricketer who died on Thursday morning on the cricket field. The sun has gone hiding. There is a dark cloud right above the venue. Well, the national anthems are done. There is quite a healthy crowd; if not for the rain prediction, the weather looks ideal for cricket today. The Indian new ball bowlers will get a hint of swing because of the humidity; however, if the Aussies see off the new ball, these are one of the best conditions to bat on in the country. Lower stands of the stadium filling up faster than the upper stands. We were looking to bat first, if we get early breakthrough that would be great for us. We know this pitch, we had so many camps here and also played our last 2 games here. Whenever we play Australia, we talk about going with a fearless mindset. Unfortunately, Pratika is not there because of her injury. Shafali comes in for her. Richa and Kranti are back for Uma and Harleen. We gonna have bat. Great conditions here and opportunity for us to put runs on the board. I am grateful for the opportunity to get that 10-day break for the rehab. It is a semi final and it's basically whoever plays better will get the result. Just one other change. Sophie Molineux comes in for Wareham. Amanjot Kaur listed to bat at 3, while her best batting performance in this World Cup has come down the order. Hopefully, there would some flexibility on that front if the need arose for it. With pitch no. 1 in use, the boundary dimensions are a bit unequal. The ones to my left are shorter as compared to my right. Will be interesting to see how Harman uses both the left-arm spinners against a right-hand heavy middle and lower order of Australia. Vinayakk: OK wow, didn't see that coming. Shafali Verma replacing Pratika Rawal turns out to be the least surprising move. After playing against Bangladesh both Amanjot Kaur and Radha Yadav stay in the XI. Radha hadn’t played till then in the tournament. Good news for India also that Richa Ghosh is back in place of Uma Chetry. The big news is that Harleen Deol is finally out of the XI. It makes you wonder about the team’s selections so far and how much conviction they had in those calls Phoebe Litchfield, Alyssa Healy(w/c), Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Amanjot Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh(w), Radha Yadav, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh Thakur Vinayakk: The story goes that there was no proper food available that morning in Derby before the 2017 semifinal, in what was a rain-curtailed match. “I remember that there was no proper food when we walked into the dressing room. We were all upset,” Veda Krishnamurthy, who was there unbeaten at the end with Harmanpreet that day, told The Indian Express. Harmanpreet was also nursing a shoulder injury that had been bothering her for a while. But when she came out to bat, she batted like she had been possessed by cricketing gods. Especially after reaching her century, it felt like no one could stop her. It was like she was taking out her frustrations on the ball. “These are special knocks that didn’t happen every day in India. It just put a whole different perception on women’s cricket. I think that is why it is so huge. It came at the right time for the fact that we could obviously reach the finals with that. The whole plan that we wanted to achieve was to get into the knockouts first for us to have that recognition back home.” Vinayakk Mohanarangan: Meg Lanning is one of the greatest captains the game of cricket has ever seen. She led Australia to four T20 World Cup titles and one in the ODI format. But it should have been two. Australia were overwhelming favourites for the 2017 edition. However, India’s Harmanpreet Kaur smashed an unbeaten 171* off 115 balls in the semifinal at County Ground in Derby that will forever be remembered as the innings that redefined women’s cricket in India Ironically enough, the impact of that match was much more significant for Australia. They haven’t lost at the ODI World Cup EVEN ONCE since that day in Derby. In September 2017 – just a few weeks after that July day in Derby – the Aussie squad got together in a meeting room at Brisbane’s National Cricket Centre and rewatched Harmanpreet’s innings. “It was a bit of embarrassment; when you’re used to success and people are expecting success and it doesn’t turn out like that, it can be quite confronting,” Australia coach Matthew Mott told cricket.com.au about that day. “But it is one we all look back on now and go, ‘that was the moment where we actually looked inside and looked at our team, warts and all’. It’s funny how you almost need those crucible moments, where everything pulls back to that point to start the trajectory Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol/Amanjot Kaur, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur India in a huddle. Perhaps some final few words being spoken before the countdown for the toss begins. The sun is out at the stadium Nitin Sharma: Ellyse Perry’s 5 for 19 against India at Wankhede in 2012 remains the best bowling figures for any bowlers in the women’s ODIS between India and Australia. Deepti Sharma’s 5 for 38 at Wankhede Stadium in 2023 is the best bowling figure by any Indian bowler against Australia in women’s ODIS. Nitin Sharma: Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten knock of 171 runs in the 2017 World Cup semi-final against Australia at Derby remains the highest individual score in women’s ODIS between India and Australia. Alyssa Healey’s knock of 142 runs against India in this World Cup is the highest score by any Australian batter against India in women’s ODIs. Nitin Sharma: The lowest win margin by runs for a team in Women’s ODIs between India and Australia is three runs, when Alyssa Healey led Australian team scored a three-run win over Harmanpreet Kaur led Indian team in a women’s ODI at Wankhede Stadium in 2023. Australia had posted a total of 258 runs batting first with India falling short of the target by three runs. Nitin Sharma: The largest win margin by runs for a team in Women’s ODIs between India and Australia is 221 runs, when the Jodie Fields led Australian team scored a 221-run win over Anjum Chopra led Indian team at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in 2012. India’s largest win margin runs is 102 runs, when the Indian team scored a 102-run win over Australia in the second Women’s ODI at Mullanpur prior to the World Cup this year. Sneh Rana who was given a rest against Bangladesh is having a bowl. Nitin Sharma: The lowest total in women’s ODIs between India and Australia is 74 scored by India at Auckland in 1982. Australia’s lowest total against India is 77 scored at Chennai in 2004. Nitin Sharma: The highest total in women’s ODIs between India and Australia is 412 scored by Australia in the third Women’s ODI of the three match WDIs series played at Delhi prior to the World Cup. India’s highest total in Women’s ODIs came in the same match, where the Indian team posted a total of 369 runs. Nitin Sharma: India and Australia have faced each other 60 times in women’s ODIs. Australia have won in 49 out of those with Indian winning 11 matches. In the last 11 women’s ODIs between the two countries, India has won only one match with the win coming in the second women’s ODI of the three-match series at Mullanpur prior to the World Cup. The last time the two teams met in a World Cups imi-final was in the 2017 women’s ODI World Cup semi-final at Derby, when the Mithali Raj led Indian team scored a 36-run win over Australia to enter the final. Harmanpreet Kaur played an unbeaten knock of 171 during the match to set u the historic win for India. Ellyse Perry who hasn't bowled a lot in this World Cup is having a bowl. Remains to be seen if she bowls a few overs today. Richa Ghosh keeping wickets with less than an hour to go for the toss A lot brighter now as both teams set up their nets for one last prep Alyssa Healy (c/wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Kim Garth, Alana King, Megan Schutt First visuals from the D.Y.Patil stadium and the sun has gone into hiding. Cloudy but no rain 12:30: a steady drizzle had picked up at the stadium with 2 hrs still go for the toss Hello and welcome to our live blog of India taking on Australia. It is going to be an electric contest. We have seen the last time these two sides have met it was a high-scoring thrilling affair and with the form both these sides are in we might expect the more or less the same. It is a red-soil Mumbai wicket at the end of the day expect quite a bit of runs today. The neighborhood where Indian cricket all-rounder Deepti Sharma grew up in Avadhpuri Colony, Agra, has been transformed and renamed the "Deepti Sharma Marg" as a tribute to her receiving the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2020. The decision to improve the roads and rename the street came after the award, turning the locality into a significant and proud community landmark. As her brother, Sumit Sharma, notes, the area is now universally known as the place where Deepti lives, symbolizing the immense respect and pride the community has for their celebrated cricketer. (Read more from Vinayakk Mohanarangan) Stay updated with the latest sports news across Cricket, Football, Chess, and more. Catch all the action with real-time live cricket score updates and in-depth coverage of ongoing matches.