A belter of a track.

Six-hundred sixty nine runs were scored on the day, including two magnificent centuries.

To top it all, a record turnout for a Women’s ODI World Cup at the DY Patil Stadium had its biggest wish fulfilled as India stunned defending champion Australia to storm in the World Cup final.

Before Thursday, India had never successfully chased down a target bigger than 265. To chase down the 339-run target set by Australia, the Women in Blue had to pull off the highest-ever successful chase in women’s ODIs.

Thanks to Jemimah Rodrigues’ perfect anchor, India did the unthinkable with five wickets and nine balls to spare to set up a mouth-watering summit clash against South Africa at the same venue on Sunday.

Jemimah’s 167-run partnership with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur first stabilised India’s innings after the host lost openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma in the PowerPlay. Jemimah was at her absolute best, cutting with panache, running between the wickets smoothly, executing ramp shots with precision, and unleashing her trademark cover drives.

With Jemimah in sublime touch, captain Harmanpreet took a backseat momentarily, but upped the ante with her power-hitting right after she crossed her fifty. But a tired shot in the eighties resulted in her being caught by Ashleigh Gardner running in from deep square-leg. With 113 required off 88 balls, the onus was on Jemimah to see the team through.

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Cameos by Deepti Sharma before a needless run-out and Richa Ghosh, who cleared the boundary as comfortably as anyone else in the game, meant India didn’t really have the run-rate pressure.

It was fitting that Jemimah was surrounded by all her teammates moments after Amanjot Kaur’s square cut off Sophie Molineux raced to the boundary.

If India was below-par in the field – conceding at least 20 runs extra besides a dropped catch and a couple of missed stumping opportunities – even Australia wilted under pressure. Captain Alyssa Healy dropped a top-edge off Rodrigues (on 82 in the 33rd over) and then Tahlia McGrath (on 106 in the 44th) gave the centurion another reprieve in what ended up as the last straw.

Jemimah’s knock overshadowed the heroics of Litchfield and Co. earlier in the day. Ellyse Perry was fluent, Gardner was destructive, but it was Litchfield who proved to be Australia’s anchor and aggressor as Australia put on a gargantuan total of 338 before being bowled off the penultimate ball.

From the moment she opened her account with a crisp cover drive off Kranti Goud in the second over, Litchfield looked in complete command. She blended elegance with aggression — using the pace of the bowlers to pierce the gaps and stepping out to spinners with confidence. When India packed the off-side, she innovated, unfurling a series of reverse sweeps and switch hits — including back-to-back sixes off Deepti Sharma in the 27th over, the latter a switch hit, being the highlight of her innings.

Litchfield’s brilliance and Perry’s classical strokeplay left India’s six-pronged attack short of ideas. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s side also faltered in the field — the skipper herself dropping a simple catch offered by Australian captain Alyssa Healy at mid-on off Renuka Thakur in the third over, setting the tone for a sloppy day.

A brief collapse saw Australia lose Litchfield, Perry, and Beth Mooney within 33 balls, slipping to 243 for five in the 40th over. Gardner’s calculated counterattack ensured India couldn’t restrict them below 300, but Jemimah and India had the last laugh.

Published on Oct 30, 2025