Stunning 100 from Jemimah Rodrigues, India knocks out seven-time champs OZ; to face SA in finals

NAVI MUMBAI: India defeated defending champions Australia in the Women's World Cup semi-final to reach the final. India qualified for the final by chasing a record 339 runs set by the Aussies. Jemimah Rodrigues scored a century and captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored a half-century. India advanced to the final by chasing the highest total in the history of women's cricket. India will face South Africa in the final on Sunday at the same venue.

Chasing a huge target, India did not have a good start. Opener Shafali Verma was the first to be dismissed for 10(5). Smriti Mandhana, who had scored 24 runs, was dismissed in the 10th over, leaving India at 59 for two. Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur added 167 runs for the third wicket to lay the foundation for India's victory. When this partnership broke up in the 36th over, India's score was 226. Deepth Sharma (24) (17) and wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh (26) (16) played their roles brilliantly, bringing India closer to victory.

Despite Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh being dismissed, Jemimah Rodrigues gave India hope. All-rounder Amanjot Kaur came to the crease at number seven. India needed 23 runs in the last three overs. 15 runs were scored to seal the win in the 48th over, bowled by Annabel Sutherland.

Australia, who batted first, were all out for 338 runs in 49.5 overs. Opener Phoebe Litchfield, who scored a century, and Ellyse Perry and Ashley Gardiner, who scored half-centuries, gave the Aussies a huge score.

Alyssa Healy 5(15) was clean bowled by Kranti Goud in the first ball of the fifth over. However, Phoebe Litchfield 119(93) and Ellyse Perry 77(88) put on 155 runs for the second wicket. This partnership was broken when Litchfield was dismissed by Amanjot Kaur. Beth Mooney 24(22), Annabel Sutherland 3(6) and Ellyse Perry fell, leaving the score at 243 for five.

Other batsmen who were dismissed were Tahlia McGrath 12(7), Ashley Gardiner 63(45), Alana King 4(4) and Sophie Molyneux 0(1). Sree Charani took two wickets for India, while Kranti Goud, Amanjot Kaur and Radha Yadav took one wicket each.