India Creates History: Jemimah Rodrigues’ Unbeaten Century Powers Record-Breaking Semi-Final Win

In a spectacular display of determination and skill, Team India’s women scripted one of the most memorable victories in cricket history by defeating seven-time champions Australia in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup semi-final. Chasing a daunting target of 339 runs, India pulled off the highest successful run chase in women’s ODI history, sealing a spot in the final and setting a new world record.

The match, played on Thursday, turned into an instant classic, thanks to an extraordinary unbeaten century from Jemimah Rodrigues. Her composed yet dominant knock of 127 not out off 134 balls, embellished with 14 fours, anchored India’s chase and ensured a five-wicket victory with nine balls to spare. Her innings not only overshadowed Australian opener Phoebe Litchfield’s brilliant century but also broke multiple records on the biggest stage of world cricket.

Rodrigues and Harmanpreet’s Partnership Breaks Backbone of Australian Attack

Jemimah Rodrigues found strong support from captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who played a crucial innings of 89 runs. The duo stitched together a 167-run stand for the third wicket, turning the match decisively in India’s favor. Their partnership dismantled Australia’s long-standing unbeaten run of 15 matches across two World Cup editions.

Interestingly, fortune also favored Rodrigues, who survived multiple chances throughout her innings — moments that she converted into match-winning opportunities. With her calm temperament and precise stroke play, she guided India to a monumental victory that will be remembered for years.

Records Tumbled at Every Stage

This thrilling semi-final wasn’t just a win — it was a night of shattered records:

• Largest Successful Run Chase in Women’s ODIs: India’s chase of 339 surpassed Australia’s previous record of 331 runs, achieved earlier this year in Visakhapatnam.

• First 300+ Successful Chase in Any World Cup Knockout (Men or Women): Never before had a team chased more than 300 runs in a World Cup semi-final or final.

• Second-Highest Aggregate in a Women’s ODI Match: The game saw a combined 679 runs, only behind the India-Australia clash in Delhi that produced 781 runs.

• Most Sixes in a Women’s World Cup Match: A total of 14 sixes were hit, marking another first for the tournament.

Prior to this, India had never successfully chased a target above 200 runs in a World Cup game. Their previous best chase was 265 runs against Australia in 2021. This victory completely redefined India’s chase credentials in global cricket.

Individual Milestones: Rodrigues Rewrites the Record Books

Jemimah Rodrigues’ unbeaten 127 is now the highest individual score by an Indian woman in a run chase, surpassing Smriti Mandhana’s previous best of 125. It also stands as the second century by an Indian batter in a World Cup knockout, following Harmanpreet Kaur’s iconic 171* against Australia in the 2017 semi-final. However, Rodrigues made history by becoming the first Indian woman to score a century in a knockout while chasing.

The match also witnessed a rare statistical highlight — Australia’s spinners bowled 23.3 overs without taking a wicket, conceding 157 runs, the most ever by a team’s spin attack without a breakthrough in women’s ODI history.

A New Chapter in Indian Women’s Cricket

With this victory, India not only ended Australia’s long unbeaten streak but also earned a place in the World Cup final against South Africa on November 2, setting up a contest guaranteed to produce a new champion.

Cricket legends and fans alike flooded social media with tributes. From Sachin Tendulkar to Gautam Gambhir, many hailed Jemimah’s innings as one of the finest ever played in women’s cricket. Her tears of joy after sealing the win reflected both relief and pride — emotions shared by an entire nation.

The Road Ahead

This semi-final triumph will go down as a turning point in women’s cricket — not only for its numbers but for the resilience, teamwork, and spirit that defined it. As India prepares for the final, one thing is clear: this is not just about breaking records, but about building legacies.