WATCH: Alyssa Healy, Phoebe Litchfield and other Australian players left heartbroken after loss to India in 2nd semifinal | Women’s World Cup 2025

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A monumental record chase, powered by an exceptional century from Jemimah Rodrigues and a dazzling knock from captain Harmanpreet Kaur, saw India defeat seven-time champions Australia by five wickets in a sensational ICC Women’s World Cup semi-final. This historic victory, achieved by chasing down 339, shattered the record for the highest successful chase in Women’s ODI history and ended Australia’s long unbeaten run in World Cup tournaments since 2017. The match was a true spectacle of courage and class, where the Australians’ formidable total was matched by an equally fearless display of batting from the Indian side, delivering a shock exit for the tournament favourites.

The Australian innings, after choosing to bat first, was a masterclass in aggressive, commanding cricket, built on two significant partnerships that propelled them to a formidable total of 338. Opener Phoebe Litchfield set the tone with a brilliant, aggressive century, quickly followed by the steady hand of veteran Ellyse Perry. “Phoebe was sensational today, set us up beautifully and went on to make a hundred,” said Captain Healy, highlighting the 21-year-old’s performance.

Litchfield was the aggressor, hitting 119 off just 93 balls, an innings punctuated by 17 fours and three sixes, marking the fastest century in Women’s World Cup knockout history. Her 155-run stand with Perry laid the perfect foundation. Perry then showcased her experience, anchoring the middle overs with a crucial 77 off 88 balls, stabilizing the innings after the early loss of Healy.

Even when India fought back in the mid-overs, Ashleigh Gardner stepped up, providing the late fireworks. Her blistering knock of 63 off just 45 balls, featuring four fours and four sixes, ensured Australia breached the 330-run mark. The team reached 338 all out in 49.5 overs, a score that felt competitive and gave them a strong belief, a total one would typically expect to be match-winning on a big stage.

Also WATCH: Jemimah Rodrigues breaks down in tears as she opens up on struggles after match-winning century in Women’s World Cup 2025 semi-final

The shock five-wicket defeat to India was a devastating blow for the seven-time champions, leading to moments of profound reflection and visible emotion among the Australian players, particularly the veterans. The record-breaking defeat of the Australian women’s team to India in the World Cup semi-final led to a visible sense of shock and dejection among the players, particularly the key figures like Phoebe Litchfield, Alyssa Healy, and Annabel Sutherland. The loss ended their pursuit of another global title and marked the conclusion of one of the most successful eras in Australian cricket.

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Captain Healy cut a particularly emotional figure in the post-match ceremony, bearing the weight of the team’s missed opportunities, including a crucial dropped catch of centurion Jemimah Rodrigues. She lamented the pivotal moments that slipped away, stating, “We created enough. We created pressure. We created opportunities. We just weren’t able to capitalise on them.”

The most striking emotional reflection came when Healy hinted at the end of her illustrious ODI World Cup career. When asked about her participation in the next cycle, the 35-year-old replied with a bittersweet smile, “I won’t be there! Oh, I think that’s the beauty of this next cycle. We’re going to see that unfold.” She added, referring to the inevitable retirement of senior players, “When you’ve seen players my age walk away, it’s kind of a weird experience for me to sort of stand there and watch the next generation go about it.”

This confirmed the end of an era for the dominant Australian team. Healy, despite the disappointment, looked to the future, stating, “We’ll learn from what we did wrong tonight. We’ll grow, we’ll get better. The opportunity for some young players to step up in this side is a really exciting thing for Australian cricket.”

Also READ: Fans erupt as Jemimah Rodrigues’ sizzling ton guides India to Women’s World Cup 2025 final with thrilling win over Australia

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.