Source: BBC Cricket
From the fringe to the final – India’s phenomenon3 days agoShareSaveAyaz MemonCricket writerShareSaveGetty ImagesJemimah Rodrigues waves to fans after powering a daunting run chaseOn a dewy Thursday night, Jemimah Rodrigues powered India to one of the greatest chases in women’s cricket to reach the ICC ODI World Cup final.A fortnight ago she was out of the side, discarded for the fixture against England after India suffered three straight defeats.Now, at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, she was on top of the world as the home side hunted down a record 338 in a pulsating edge-of-the-seat finish – winning by five wickets with five balls to spare.For defending champions Australia, seven-time winners and unbeaten in this tournament, it was a shattering end to a 16-match unbeaten World Cup streak stretching back to 2022.At the heart of India’s stunning win was Rodrigues – the batter from Mumbai whose unbeaten 127 from 134 balls demonstrated self-belief, skill, and tactical brilliance in a daunting run chase.India stun Australia in record chase to reach finalIndia’s fiercest nemesis, the giants of women’s cricket, were finally toppled. With Australia out, there will be a new name on the trophy on Sunday.Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty ImagesAsh Gardner has been one of Australia’s strongest batters through the tournamentRodrigues’ maiden World Cup century helped India go past the twists, turns and hurdles during the run chase.After the match, experts hailed it as the greatest ODI century in women’s cricket in the greatest run chase the format has seen. Few have disagreed.It was a masterclass from Rodrigues – in both conception and execution.Her reading of the ebb and flow of play, especially during testing passages, was superb.The ability to find gaps in the field, the innovative strokes that disrupt the rhythm of the bowlers and flummoxed fielders, the swift running between the wickets, the capacity to up the strike rate when needed, showcased a batter in commanding form.What her composure and sublime form didn’t show was the turmoil Rodrigues had been battling before and during the tournament.It’s an irony now that Rodrigues wasn’t in India’s original World Cup plans – her selection came only after much debate.PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP via Getty Images)Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues’ steady stand anchored India’s famous winAfter the match, Rodrigues admitted to battling anxiety through the tournament – uncertain about her place, her role, and her future after being dropped.”I relied on Jesus to help me out of the mental crisis,” she said.Faith may move mountains – in Rodrigues’s case, it silenced the demons in her head and steadied her focus.On her return to the playing XI against a tough New Zealand side, she scored a stroke-filled unbeaten 65. But a far bigger challenge awaited her in the semi-final.Australia, choosing to bat first, notched up 338, fired by a brutal 119 off just 93 deliveries by 22-year-old opener Phoebe Litchfield and her 155-…
Published: 2025-10-31T17:20:44
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