India stormed into the World Cup final after pulling off a stunning 339-run chase thanks to a brilliant century by Jemimah Rodrigues in the second semifinal against Australia in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.
Jemimah remained unbeaten on 127 off 134 balls as India closed out the game with nine balls to spare. Amanjot Kaur hit the winning runs with a boundary through backward point, finishing on 15 off eight balls.
It was the highest successful chase in women's ODIs beating the record of 331 set by Australia against India in this same tournament 18 days ago.
Jemimah and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur had added 167 runs for the third wicket to keep India's hopes alive after both openers fell within the first 10 overs. Harmanpreet was caught by Ash Gardner at mid-wicket off Annabel Sutherland for 89 off 88 balls but Jemima kept going till the very end.
After Harmanpreet departed, Deepti Sharma arrived at the crease and played a brisk cameo of 24 off 17 balls before being run out in a mix-up with Jemimah who went on to complete her ton off 115 balls.
Richa Ghosh kept the scoreboard ticking by hammering 26 off 16 balls but fell with 29 more runs needed off 24 balls before Jemimah and Amanjot delivered the coup de grace.
Earlier, Shafali Varma was the first to go, trapped leg before by Kim Garth for 10 in the second over.
Garth struck again by having the in-form Smriti Mandhana caught behind by wicket-keeper Alyssa Healy for a run-a-ball 24, leaving India at 59/2 in the tenth over.
In the first half of the game, a late blitz by Ash Gardner lifted Australia to a mammoth 338 after India had pegged them back following opener Phoebe Litchfield's century off just 77 balls.
Litchfield and Ellyse Perry put on a 155-run stand for the second wicket after the loss of skipper Alyssa Healy.
Kranti Gaud had handed India a crucial early breakthrough, removing Healy in the sixth over to leave the Aussies at 25/1.
Healy had an early escape when Harmanpreet Kaur put down a simple catch, but her luck ran out soon after as Gaud castled her for just 5 off 15 balls.
Litchfield and Perry then sent India on a leather hunt with the former reaching her maiden World Cup ton by lofting a Charani delivery over mid-off.
She was finally castled by Amanjot Kaur after making 119 off 93 balls, which included 17 fours and three sixes.
Perry reached her fifty off 66 balls but Charani then struck twice in successive overs to peg back the Aussies.
She had Beth Mooney caught at cover by Jemimah Rodrigues for 24 off 22 balls and then removed Annabel Sutherland with a return catch for just three.
Radha Yadav bowled Perry for 77 off 88 balls to leave the Aussies at 243/5. A mix-up between Ash Gardner and Tahlia McGrath then saw the latter being run out for 12.
Gardner, however, ensured that Australia reached an imposing total by smashing 63 off 45 balls including four fours and four sixes.
TOSS
Healy had earlier won the toss and elected to bat against India in the knockout clash on Thursday.
For India, Shafali Verma came in for Pratika Rawal, who was ruled out of the tournament, while Uma Chetry and Harleen Deol made way for Richa Ghosh and Kranti Gaud.
Healy’s return bolstered Australia’s lineup, with Sophie Molineux also coming in for Georgia Wareham and Georgia Voll.
The winner of this match will face South Africa in the final on Sunday.
The players of both teams wore black armbands as a tribute to teen cricketer Ben Austin, who passed away after being hit by a ball during training.
The 17-year-old Austin was hit in the neck while batting at the Ferntree Gully Cricket Club in suburban Melbourne on Tuesday.
He was wearing a helmet which had no neck guard while training for his club, and was hit by the ball which was thrown by a side-arm.
Austin was batting against fast bowlers in the nets ahead of a T20 match when he suffered the fatal blow in front of his teammates.
After the incident, Austin was put on ventilator but he succumbed to his injury, which revoked the memories of Australian cricketer Phil Hughes' tragic death in 2014.
Ferntree Gully confirmed Austin's death on Thursday.
TEAMS
India Women: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Amanjot Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (w), Radha Yadav, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh Thakur
Australia Women: Phoebe Litchfield, Alyssa Healy (w/c), Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt.
