What unfolded on the evening of October 30, 2025, at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai will be etched in cricketing memory for many years to come. The India Women’s team embarked on a seemingly impossible mission: chasing down 339 runs in a Women’s World Cup semi-final against the ever-formidable Australia Women. By the end, they had done it—successfully chasing 341 for 5 in 48.3 overs—and in the process rewrote the record books.
Setting the Scene
Australia, defending champions and accustomed to success on the big stage, elected to bat first. They made the most of that choice, producing a mammoth total of 338 before being bowled out. The innings featured an explosive century from Phoebe Litchfield (119) and significant contributions from Ellyse Perry (77) and Ashleigh Gardner (63). India’s bowlers tried valiantly, but the visitors’ batting depth shone through.
At 338, Australia had piled up one of the biggest scores in Women’s ODI history—and they would’ve felt confident of putting themselves in the final. But the Indian women had other ideas.
India’s Nerve-Testing Start
When India came out to chase, the task was monumental. Historically, they had never successfully chased even a 200+ total in a Women’s World Cup knockout match. Early wickets did not make things any easier: Shafali Verma was dismissed cheaply, Smriti Mandhana fell for 24. At 59 for 2, the chase looked highly fragile.
But it was then that two of India’s experienced campaigners – captain Harmanpreet Kaur and the ever‐steady Jemimah Rodrigues – began to stitch together a rescue act. Harmanpreet struck 89 (from 88 balls) while Rodrigues remained unbeaten on 127, leading India to one of the greatest wins in women’s cricket.
The Anchor and the Accelerator
Rodrigues’ innings was both composed and clinical. She mixed aggression with patience, picked the right moments to dominate, and carried India across the line. Her unbeaten 127 is now the highest individual score by an Indian woman in an ODI run-chase.
Harmanpreet, as captain, provided more than just a big score. She anchored the middle phase, ensured the momentum didn’t slip, and partnered with Rodrigues to build a massive stand of 167 for the third wicket. Together, these two produced India’s highest partnership against Australia in a Women’s World Cup knockout.
Momentum and Turning Points
There were a few moments when the atmosphere grew tense. Dropped catches, tight overs, pressure mounting—it could’ve gone off the rails. India did drop Rodrigues at 82, and again later on. But she refused to let those lapses define the outcome.
One significant flashpoint was when Defender Australia tried to claw back momentum via penetrating bowling or fielding pressure—but India weathered the storms. As the overs ticked away and the target came into view, it felt increasingly inevitable that this was going to be a special night.
When a short ball was dispatched to the boundary by Amanjot Kaur to seal the win, the city erupted. India had reached the final with nine balls to spare. The magnitude of the achievement was plain: a successful chase of 339, the highest ever in a women’s ODI, and especially in a World Cup knockout.
What This Means in the Record Books
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339 runs stands as the highest target ever successfully chased in Women’s One Day Internationals.
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This was the first time any team—men’s or women’s—has chased down a 300+ total in an ODI World Cup knockout match.
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India and Australia’s combined match aggregate of 679 runs is now the highest in the tournament’s history.
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For India, this is the third time they’ve made the Women’s ODI World Cup final (previously in 2005 and 2017).
The Emotional Wallop
In sport, numbers tell one story—emotion tells another. For India, this was more than just a win—it was catharsis. Tears of joy, hugs between teammates, fans cheering in unison. For many players, especially Rodrigues, this moment felt beyond belief. She said afterwards: “It just feels like a dream, and it’s not sunk in yet.”
For Australia, the loss was painful. A team so used to lift trophies, so used to pulling through big moments, saw their streak of 15 consecutive World Cup match wins come to an end.
Why This Win Matters
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Confidence & belief: India have shown they can chase big, scary targets—even in the highest-pressure knockout environment.
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Momentum for the final: With this win, India now face South Africa Women in the final and the sense of ‘why not us?’ pervades more strongly than ever.
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Women’s cricket growth: Audiences, broadcasts, records—all of this adds to the narrative of women’s sport growing bigger, louder, more competitive.
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Inspiration: Young cricketers across the country will look at Rodrigues’ hitting, Kaur’s leadership and think, “That could be me one day.”
Looking Ahead: The Final & Beyond
The final now beckons. India have as good a chance as anyone to lift the trophy. But they must guard against complacency, remember every shot needs to count and every over matters.
Australia, though out of this tournament, will not vanish quietly. They’ll go back, reflect, rebuild—and return stronger.
For Indian women’s cricket, though, this is a watershed moment. A win like this doesn’t just happen—it is made. Made through training, belief, mental toughness, talent.
Final Thoughts
If you seek a single word to summaries this match—it’s redemption. Not because India were shamefully weak before—it’s because they’ve now pushed through that barrier: the barrier of wanting to chase big, and actually making it happen in the biggest game of them all.
On that night in Navi Mumbai, under lights and with history watching, India stood tall. They reached that summit, and in doing so, they told every opponent: “We are here. And we mean business.”
This was not just a semi-final win. It was a statement. And when the next generation looks back at landmark performances in women’s cricket—it’s this night they’ll remember.
Sources: ESPNcricinfo, ICC, BBC
Media files: India Today, First Post
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