India produced a stunning performance to defeat Australia by five wickets in the ICC Women's World Cup semi-final, completing a record chase of 339 runs with nine balls to spare. The victory sets up a thrilling final against South Africa on Sunday.
Jemimah Rodrigues was the hero of the match, scoring an unbeaten 127 runs from 134 balls to guide her team to victory. The 25-year-old right-hander formed a crucial 167-run partnership with captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who contributed 89 runs from 88 balls. Rodrigues showed remarkable composure and skill, hitting 10 boundaries and taking India across the finish line.
Australia's Phoebe Litchfield had earlier set the stage with a fantastic hundred, scoring 119 runs from 93 balls to help her team post a total of 338 runs in 49.5 overs. However, India's batters made the most of some costly errors by the Australian fielders, with Rodrigues and Kaur capitalizing on dropped catches to keep their team in the game.
The match will be remembered as an instant classic, with India's successful chase going down as the highest in women's one-day international history. Rodrigues' innings was particularly impressive, as she timed her chase to perfection and showed intent from the off. Her unbeaten century has sealed her place as a hero for India, and she will head into the World Cup final with her team on a high.
Australia, on the other hand, will rue the missed opportunities that could have changed the course of the game. Despite Litchfield's ton, the team failed to capitalize on their strong start, suffering two mini-collapses and losing their last four wickets for just seven runs. The defeat means the defending champions are out of the tournament, paving the way for a new winner.
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