The ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 semi-final witnessed a thrilling contest at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Sports Academy as Australia’s batting prowess pushed India on the backfoot. After Phoebe Litchfield’s maiden World Cup century laid a solid foundation, Ellyse Perry’s composed half-century continued Australia’s dominance, before Beth Mooney departed at 220/3 in the 34th over.
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India vs Australia Match Summary
| Match Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | 2nd Semi-Final, Women’s World Cup 2025 |
| Teams | India Women vs Australia Women |
| Venue | DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai |
| Date | October 30, 2025 |
| Time | 3:00 PM IST |
| Toss | Australia (elected to bat) |
| Australia Score | 220/3 (34 overs) |
| Run Rate | 6.47 |
| Top Scorer | Phoebe Litchfield (119 off 93) |
Litchfield’s Century Steals the Show
Phoebe Litchfield chose the grandest stage to announce her arrival in World Cup cricket. The young opener crafted a magnificent 119 off 93 balls, becoming only the fourth Australian woman to score a century in ODI World Cup knockout matches. She joined the legendary company of Alyssa Healy (170 and 129) and Karen Rolton (107*).
Her innings was peppered with breathtaking strokes, including a stunning reverse sweep against Deepti Sharma that drew comparisons to Glenn Maxwell’s audacious batting. Litchfield’s aggressive approach kept Indian bowlers guessing throughout her stay at the crease, smashing consecutive boundaries and maintaining a strike rate that put Australia in a commanding position.
Perry’s Experience Shines Through
Ellyse Perry, the seasoned campaigner, played the perfect supporting role before taking charge after Litchfield’s dismissal. Perry reached her half-century off 66 deliveries, showcasing her big-match temperament once again. The Litchfield-Perry partnership of 150+ runs proved to be the backbone of Australia’s imposing total.
India’s Brief Resurgence
The hosts finally broke through when Amanjot Kaur dismissed Litchfield for 119. The breakthrough came when Litchfield, attempting an ambitious scoop shot, missed a straightened delivery that crashed into her stumps. Despite her disappointment, Litchfield had already inflicted significant damage.
Sree Charani provided India with another crucial wicket when Beth Mooney fell for 24 runs. Mooney, trying to accelerate, attempted an inside-out shot towards cover but only managed to hand an easy catch to Jemimah Rodrigues. Annabel Sutherland walked in next as Australia looked to push past the 300-mark with 16 overs remaining.
India’s Struggles Continue
India’s challenges extended beyond wicket-taking. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s decision-making came under scrutiny as statistics revealed she has had nine consecutive unsuccessful reviews while fielding in this World Cup—more than any other team has recorded.
With Australia reaching 200 in the 32nd over and maintaining a run rate above 6, India’s bowlers struggled to contain the onslaught. Despite using all their frontline bowlers, including bringing back Radha Yadav (who conceded 14 in her first over), nothing seemed to work against Australia’s relentless batting display.
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The Context: Path to Semi-Finals
India earned their semi-final berth with a commanding 53-run victory over New Zealand. Meanwhile, Australia dominated the league stage, topping the points table unbeaten with six wins from seven matches, cementing their status as tournament favorites.
What Lies Ahead
With Australia eyeing a total exceeding 300 and India facing a daunting chase at their home ground, the pressure is immense. Can the Indian batting lineup deliver a record-breaking performance, or will Australia’s dominance continue into the final?
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Phoebe Litchfield’s century compare to other World Cup knockout hundreds?
Phoebe Litchfield’s 119 off 93 balls made her only the fourth Australian woman to score a century in ODI World Cup knockout matches. Her innings ranks behind Alyssa Healy’s remarkable 170 against England in the 2022 Final and 129 against West Indies in the 2022 semi-final, and ahead of Karen Rolton’s unbeaten 107 against India in the 2005 Final. What makes Litchfield’s century special is her age and the aggressive manner in which she dominated India’s bowling attack on such a crucial stage.
What has been India’s biggest challenge in this semi-final?
India’s primary struggle has been their inability to take wickets and contain Australia’s aggressive batting. The bowling attack failed to break the 150+ run partnership between Litchfield and Perry despite trying all frontline bowlers. Additionally, captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s poor review record (nine consecutive unsuccessful reviews) and missed opportunities in the field have compounded India’s problems, allowing Australia to build a potentially match-winning total exceeding 300 runs.
