Source: BBC Cricket
Could India’s win for the ages redefine women’s cricket?To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be playedMedia caption,India complete record run chase to reach World Cup finalByFfion WynneBBC Sport JournalistPublished30 October 2025452 CommentsWhen Jemimah Rodrigues was trying to force herself into the India women’s side as a teenager, she cut out a photograph of her face and stuck it over an image of the national team’s jersey.She told theNo Balls podcast back in 2021that she would look at it every single day for motivation, refusing to lose sight of the dream that started for a four-year-old girl playing street cricket with her brothers.On Thursday, under the bright lights of Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium, she played one of the all-time classic one-day international innings, in one of the greatest games, to lead India to a World Cup final at the expense of defending champions Australia.It is remarkable to think that just 11 days ago Rodrigues was dropped for India’s group stage game against England, which they lost by four runs.But under the highest pressure and against the world’s best, she finished unbeaten on 127 in a successful chase of 339 – a women’s ODI record – with each run greeted by a roar from a packed crowd that was witnessing history unfold.Rodrigues sunk to the ground in exhaustion once Amanjot Kaur hit the winning boundary, unable to contain the tears as the magnificence of her achievement hit home.She subsequently revealed in the news conference that she had “cried almost every day of the World Cup with anxiety”.Known for her bubbly personality and infectious smile no matter what she does on the field, this was a different side to Rodrigues – one of grit and determination in an innings of pure class.She was already a star – but now has a chance to go stratospheric.Pick your Women’s World Cup team of the tournamentPublished3 days agoIndia stun Australia in record chase to reach finalPublished3 days agoWatch: The Women in Blue from The Great Indian Cricket Dream. Video, 00:23:03Watch: The Women in Blue from The Great Indian Cricket DreamPublished23 November 2022India’s golden ticket to gloryTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be playedMedia caption,’One of best innings you’ll see’ – Rodrigues powers India to finalIndia and Australia have history in World Cups.There was Harmanpreet Kaur’s unforgettable 171 at Derby in 2017 to seal India’s place in the final, and the near-miss in the T20 semi-final at Cape Town in 2023 as the same player’s bat got stuck in the ground as she was crucially run out.These two teams had already played out the best match of this tournament’s group stage, with Alyssa Healy’s side chasing 331 on that occasion.Thursday’s thriller was another example of India and Australia taking the game to new levels.Phoebe Litchfield’s stunning 119 set up Australia’s 338, supported by half-centuries from Ellyse Perry and Ash Gardn…
Published: 2025-10-30T19:00:35
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