India’s Greatest-Ever Run Chase. Picture this: a packed stadium in Navi Mumbai, the air thick with tension. It’s the semi-final of the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup. Your opponent? The seemingly invincible Australian team, riding a 15-match winning streak in the tournament. They’ve just set a colossal target of 339 runs. Do you crumble under the pressure, or do you step up and create history?
For the Indian Women’s Cricket Team, the answer was deafeningly clear. They chose to create a moment that would be etched in cricketing folklore forever.
The Chase That Stunned the World
Facing a mountain to climb, India embarked on what would become the highest successful run chase in the history of Women’s One Day International cricket. It wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. The team methodically dismantled the Australian bowling attack, reaching a breathtaking 341/5 with nine balls to spare.
The architect of this incredible victory was the phenomenal Jemimah Rodrigues. Playing the innings of her life, she remained unbeaten on 127, the highest score ever by an Indian batter in an ODI chase. She wasn’t alone in this heroic effort. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who was later left speechless by her team’s grit, joined Rodrigues for a record-shattering 167-run partnership for the third wicket. This stand didn’t just stabilize the innings; it floored the accelerator and propelled India towards an unlikely victory.
When the winning runs were hit, it was more than just securing a spot in the World Cup final. It was the end of Australia’s dominant run and the birth of a new cricketing legend.
A Tournament of Broken Records
But here’s the twist that makes this story even more compelling. The record India broke? It had been set just days earlier in the very same tournament. And who held it? None other than Australia.
In a league stage match in Visakhapatnam, Australia had chased down India’s formidable total of 330. Their captain, Alyssa Healy, was the destroyer-in-chief that day, smashing an unbelievable 142 off just 107 balls. It was a masterclass in aggressive chasing and, at the time, the new benchmark in the women’s game. Little did they know their record would be so short-lived, snatched away by the very team they had just defeated.
Here are the top 5 highest successful run chases in Women’s ODI history:
| Rank | Target | Chasing Team | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 341/5 | India Women | Australia Women | Navi Mumbai | 2025 |
| 2 | 331/7 | Australia Women | India Women | Visakhapatnam | 2025 |
| 3 | 302/4 | Sri Lanka Women | South Africa Women | Potchefstroom | 2024 |
| 4 | 289/6 | Australia Women | New Zealand Women | North Sydney | 2012 |
| 5 | 283/* | Australia Women | India Women | Wankhede (Mumbai) | 2023 |
The Bigger Picture: A New Era for Women’s Cricket
What does this exhilarating back-and-forth tell us? The 2025 World Cup wasn’t just about one or two record-breaking games. It was a clear signal that women’s cricket has entered a dynamic new era. The combined 679 runs scored in the India-Australia semi-final—the highest match aggregate in a Women’s World Cup game—is proof of that.
Higher totals are no longer just intimidating; they’re seen as achievable targets. Batters are more powerful, strategies are more aggressive, and the ‘impossible’ is constantly being redefined. This isn’t just an evolution; it’s a revolution.
India’s historic chase wasn’t just a victory for a billion fans; it was a victory for the sport itself. It set a new standard of excellence and sent a clear message to the world: the future of women’s cricket is thrilling, unpredictable, and here to stay. The only question left is, what record will fall next?
