India pulled off a dramatic record run-chase to knock the reigning champions, Australia, out of the World Cup, led by an outstanding century from Jemimah Rodrigues. Rodrigues was dropped three times by Australia, on 52, 83 and 106, eventually finishing unbeaten on 127 as the seven-time world champions uncharacteristically cracked under the pressure of defending 338.
It was left to Amanjot Kaur to reap the rewards of Rodrigues’ staying power, striking the winning runs from Sophie Molineux’s 49th over with nine balls to spare. The historic run-chase – the highest ever achieved in women’s ODI cricket – had hung in the balance after Harmanpreet Kaur miscued a pull to midwicket in the 36th over, out for a run-a-ball 89 with 113 runs still needed from 88 balls.
Rodrigues, though, remained unbeaten to the end, as India waltzed into a home World Cup final with a five-wicket win, delighting the Mumbai crowd. They face South Africa at the same ground on Sunday.
Earlier, Australia’s total of 338 was built around a maiden World Cup hundred from the 22-year-old Phoebe Litchfield, a quiet half-century from Ellyse Perry and a much noisier one from Ash Gardner. Litchfield unfurled her trademark reverse-sweep, but was bowled trying to ramp Amanjot Kaur in the 28th over, and India fought back in the middle overs to take four Australian wickets for 45 runs.
