Australia Women vs India Women Highlights: Rodrigues guides India to historic victory over Australia

Healy: “Good contest in the end. Probably reflecting on that, we did that to ourselves a little bit, probably the first time. Did not finish with the bat well, did not bowl that great, dropped chances in the field. But ultimately, outdone in the end. We thought we had half-done the job. Left a few (runs) out there. (Felt) If we could execute with the ball and take our chances, we were still in the game. India played really well, held their nerve really well and got themselves across the line. Weird experience for me to stand there and see the next generation go about it. she (Litchfield) was sensational. Set us off really nicely. Was able to cash in with a hundred. Kudos to her. Fun to watch her, and the next four years leading up to the next World Cup will be fun to watch.”

Harmanpreet: “Very proud. I don’t have words how to express myself. Feeling great, this time we have crossed that line which we have been working towards for so many years. We spoke to each other (with the coach) that we have done this because we have been working so hard. Both of us are really proud of this team. We have that trust that any player can win any match from any situation. Made few mistakes but we have been learning from our mistakes. Today, wanted everything to go in our favour in every situation, and kept telling ourselves to be there for the team, and that worked for us. That day (against England) we realized we did not execute well. We were late by 2-3 overs, could have taken risks a few overs earlier and that cost us. That is what we discussed, that we have to be calculative. Once you are out of the game, it is hard to come back. I know it is 50 overs but the last five overs is where you have to be very particular and calculative. We knew what we had to do in the same situation and we wanted to finish it before the 50th over. She (Rodrigues) is someone who always wants to do well for the team. Always very calculative and wants to take responsibility. We always have that trust on her. Both of us had a good time on the pitch. Whenever we were batting, we were complementing each other and calculating. Really enjoy batting with her. She is always telling me we got five runs, seven runs, two balls are left. That shows how involved she is. Amazed to see how she was thinking. Lots of credit to her, to hold her nerve and keep batting for the team.”

“I want to thank Jesus, could not do this on my own. I want to thank my mom, dad and coach and every single person who believed in me. It was really hard this last month, it feels like a dream and it still has not sunk in. Did not know I was batting at three. Was taking a shower, just told them to let me know. Five minutes before entering in, I was told I was batting at three. Not about me, wanted to win this match for India, and wanted to take this through,” Rodrigues says during the presentation.

“Today was not about my fifty or my hundred, about making India win. Everything that happened so far, was a setup for this. Last year, I was dropped from this World Cup. I was in good form. But things kept happening back-to-back, and could not control anything. I have almost cried every day through this tour. Not doing well mentally, going through anxiety. I knew I had to show up, and God took care of everything,” she adds.

Australia had smashed the record for the highest successful chase in women’s ODIs after chasing down 331 against India in Vizag during the group stage.

The Women in Blue return the favour in the semi-final by chasing down 339 in Navi Mumbai, with Jemimah Rodrigues producing one of the greatest knocks in the history of the game!

Things had not been going Australia’s way for quite some time now, with Healy dropping a catch and the defending champions later burning a review after an unsuccessful LBW appeal – with Rodrigues the batter in question on both occasions. Harmanpreet, meanwhile, had accelerated brilliantly after bringing up her fifty, and was looking set for a century. End of a mammoth third-wicket stand that’s ultimately worth 167.

It took Australia a moment of brilliance to deny the India captain that milestone. India still have plenty of batting left, with senior all-rounder Deepti Sharma joining a well-set Jemimah Rodrigues. IND 230/3 after 36; need 109 off 84

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur brings up the milestone with a boundary off Kim Garth, who is brought back at the halfway stage of the Indian chase in order to break this partnership. Rodrigues is well set and is batting in the 60s while Harmanpreet is a hit away from her half-century.

This has been some fightback by the two senior Indian batters after the Women in Blue lost both openers inside the powerplay in their chase of an improbable 339-run target. And India will be hoping that these two stick around for a while longer, and that at least one of them stays till the end. IND 163/2; need 176 off 144

Rodrigues gets down on one knee and sweeps the ball towards the fence between deep square leg and deep midwicket, beating a diving fielder in front of the rope. The Indian No 3, however, is nearly dismissed by King in the following delivery after chipping the ball towards extra cover, where Litchfield leaps to her right and nearly pulls off a stunner.

She builds a solid third-wicket stand with captain Harmanpreet that’s currently worth 65, and has revived India’s hopes of chasing down the improbable target. IND 124/2 after 21; need 215 off 174

Australia captain Healy decides to introduce her key weapon King – who had decimated the South Africans with a haul of 7/18 in the defending champions’ final group match. This after Jemi and Harman build a steady third-wicket partnership after Mandhana’s dismissal which includes four boundaries – two of them coming in Annabel Sutherlands’s second over.

And the leg-spinner nearly has Harmanpreet stumped in the final delivery of her first over, with Healy unable to collect the ball and break the stumps on time. Drinks brought to the field at the end of the 15th over. IND 88/2 after 15; need 251 off 210

Alyssa Healy appeals for caught-behind after Kim Garth, who bowls a fifth over on the trot and fires one down leg to Smriti Mandhana after switching to round the wicket. The umpire signals wide and the bowler herself is unsure about it, with Mandhana appearing confident. Healy, however, trusts her instinct and signals for a review.

Turns out to be a brilliant decision by the Aussie captain, with a faint spike on Ultra-Edge forcing the on-field umpire to reverse her decision. Mandhana can barely believe what she’s seeing on the giant screen as she makes the slow walk back to the dugout.

India 60/2 at the end of the powerplay, and they need another 279 to win off 240 balls with eight wickets in hand.

Australia’s innings comes to a dramatic end as they lose their last four wickets for just seven runs to get bowled out for 338. Deepti Sharma strikes twice in as many deliveries in the final over, getting Alana King (4) caught-behind before castling Sophie Molineux (0) for a golden duck. Garth is run-out two balls later for 17 while dashing back for a second run.

Australia’s innings isn’t very different from how India batted when these two teams had met in Vizag earlier in the tournament, with the Women in Blue losing wickets in a heap towards the end to get bowled out for 330. Australia had pulled off a record chase with a three-wicket win back then. Can India return the favour in Navi Mumbai tonight? Stay tuned to find out…

McGrath responds to Gardner’s call for a risky single, and pays the price for ball-watching. Rodrigues, stationed at extra cover, collects the ball and throws it towards the keeper’s end in one swift motion to ensure McGrath falls well short.

And right after the sharp piece of fielding, India’s fielding woes come back to haunt them as five overthrows are conceded the very next ball. AUS 271/6 after 42

Mooney, who was scoring runs at more than run-a-ball during her brief stay at the centre, departs after chipping the ball towards cover while attempting to play a lofted shot off the left-arm spinner, with Rodrigues calmly collecting the ball at the edge of the circle.

Another wicket or two at this stage, especially that of Perry, could potentially turn the tide in India’s favour and help them restrict the defending champions to a score in the range of 300. AUS 220/3 after 34

Perry completes her half-century – her 37th in ODIs but her first in the ongoing tournament – in 66 deliveries with a single off Radha Yadav. Her partner Beth Mooney brings up Australia’s 200 with a boundary off Amanjot in the following over, with Perry smashing the ball over long on for her second six two balls later.

Australia have maintained a run-rate above six-an-over so far and have so far set things up nicely for going slam-bang in the death overs. AUS 207/2 after 34