MUMBAI (Kashmir English): India will face South Africa in the final of the Women’s World Cup at the DY Patil Stadium in the outskirts of Mumbai on Sunday.
On Thursday, the hosts beat Australia in a stunning chase of record 339 with Jemimah Rodrigues scoring an unbeaten 127 in the second semi-final of the Women’s World Cup.
Rodrigues and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who hit 89, put on 167 runs for the third wicket as the hosts won with nine balls and five wickets to spare.
Amanjot Kaur’s winning boundary triggered wild celebrations in the Indian camp with smiles and tears of joy in the dugout.
The hosts will face South Africa in the final at the same venue on Sunday with the 50-over tournament to get a new champion.
India made history to get past the previous best chase of 331 by Australia against them in the league stage of this edition.
Australia failed to defend Women’s World Cup title
Seven-time champions Australia faltered in their title defence as they suffered their first defeat in the ODI World Cup after 15 victories since 2017 when India beat them in the semi-final game on Thursday.
India looked in trouble at 59-2 in the 10th over, but Rodrigues and Kaur rode the storm and then took the attack to the opposition at a nearly-packed house that cheered every run.
A key moment in the game came when Australian skipper Alyssa Healy dropped Rodrigues on 82 as she failed to hold on to the ball with her wicketkeeping gloves off Alana King.
When Kaur was caught out for 89, India still needed another 113 for victory but Rodrigues was dropped again on 106 by Tahila McGrath.
After Australia elected to bat in overcast conditions, Phoebe Litchfield smashed 119 off 93 balls to take the team to the mammoth total.
Both sides wore black armbands in support of promising 17-year-old Australian cricketer Ben Austin, who died Thursday after being struck with a ball while training in Melbourne.
