Test Match Special - Record breaking India shock Australia to reach Women’s World Cup Final

Episode Date: October 30, 2025

India beat holders Australia by 5 wickets in a thrilling World Cup semi-final. Analysis by Melissa Story, Nikesh Rughani, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala and Steven Finn plus reaction from player of the match Jemimah Rodrigues and captains Alyssa Healy and Harmanpreet Kaur.

You're listening to the TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. Amundjokor then on strike to Molinue. Two runs needed to get through to the final on Sunday. She backs away. She cuts away the ball for four runs. Elation for India. Tamima Rodriguez is on the floor. The Indian team are running out to the middle to celebrate.

Navi Mumbai erupts. because India have pulled off the highest successful run chase in women's one-day international cricket. And they're through to the final on Sunday, up against South Africa. They have beaten the seven-time champions and favourites for the competition, Australia. And Harman Preakor, the Indian captain, in tears, being surrounded by the Indian coaching staff. Jamima Rodriguez is on her knees being held up by her team. teammates. And the scenes here in Navi Mumbai,

Mumbai, really quite miraculous for India. They win by five wickets against Australia. I mean, just lost for words. It's just very hard to describe what we are seeing, what we are witnessing here. To achieve what they have achieved, chasing 339, Rodrigues, completely in tears, she doesn't understand what she has done yet. She will take a couple of days to realize what she has achieved and what an inning she has played. played but this is one of the best innings you'll ever see in cricket period chasing 339 and being not out at the other end this is just ridiculous cricket from India you know Stephen Finn we thought

we knew this was a good batting surface so a chase like this was never impossible but Australia are formidable force they have those titles behind them they have that almost legacy of getting through to finals and making it count winning these knockout games and for India we We discussed them being the underdogs going into this contest here today. But actually, it almost feels if they've taken that within their stride and just gone, we have the chance here to make history and cause almost in some ways a bit of an upset. Well, it's a dangerous liberating mindset to find.

And I think they did that really well in the second half of the game. I'm sure at half time, there would have been a few conversations in the dressing room that said this is going to be a really tough task. but the way that Rodriguez played in particular was outstanding the way that she held everything together. She was given her chances and Australia will be sat on the flip side in their dressing room ruining the two drop catches.

Healy and then McGraw, two very experienced players to put those catches down under that pressure in those circumstances has probably led to them being in the position that they are now but forget what Australia didn't do. I think you just have to take a huge nod towards the way that India has changed. those runs down and yeah what an amazing game of cricket and the two semi-finals in this world cup have just been entirely defined by two fantastic innings from laura wolva up for south

africa and from jemima rodrigues for india who's on her feet now and continues to be embraced by her teammates and blowing kisses to the crowd i think it's not going to sink in for quite a while about what she's achieved but certainly that innings from her finishing 127 not a lot of out of 134 balls. A really crucial contribution as well from Indian Captain Harmon Preet Corps with 89 off 88 and Richard Goshe as well, 26 off 16.

Abashek, before I hand over to Nakesh. I mean, India haven't had a smooth sailing experience in this World Cup because, of course, they had that almost risky performance against Sri Lanka in their opening game straight through to the knockout stages and it's felt as if they've been saving their best performance until when it really, really counted.

And it will be it still hasn't been their perfect performance. There was mistakes in the field. There was sloppiness in that first inning. For you, do you see this as an India side who on Sunday, when they're up against South Africa, will be able to lift that trophy? Your thoughts and then, Nikesh. Oh, absolutely.

I think if you win a game like this, it doesn't matter what sort of a performance you have had throughout the tournament. They have had those three back-to-back losses, and after that somehow scraped through to the semi-final. But when you play cricket like this against the best side in the history of the game for women cricket, and you win chasing the highest ever total that has ever been chased in a World Cup, you've got to go as favourites when it comes to the final. What an achievement from India and again.

We have spoken a lot about Rodriguez, but I think we should not forget the innings from Herman P. Codd, the pressure to took off from Rodriguez and then Deepti Sharma's 24 and Richard goes 26 were equally important for India to cross the line. So India have beaten Australia here chasing down 339 to make their passage into Sunday's World Cup final to take on South Africa. An extraordinary run chase, the highest in women's ODI history. Emotional scenes out in the middle in Navi Mumbai with Jamima Rodriguez, as we mentioned. Unbeaten on 127, the linchpin really. that held the Indian effort together. Brilliant contributions from Harman Prick Corr, making 89 from 88.

Smithy Mandana didn't quite manage to go on. She was snuffled down the leg side, making 24 at the top of the other. Dipti Sharma came in and played a good knock, 24 from 17 before, unfortunately being run out. Richard Gosh came in, smashed a few big shots in her effort as well, 26 from just 16 balls, and then Ammanjok Kor, helping India get over the line with an unbeaten. 15 from just eight balls, two crucial boundaries for her in that innings too.

In India, in the end, doing it with nine balls to spare, an absolutely superhuman effort against the seven times champions, the huge favourites to win this competition. And we're going to see a new winner, Abyshek, on Sunday. Oh, absolutely. And also, I just feel that this is going to take Indian women cricket to great heights. A win like this, the whole country is going to celebrate, they're going to inspire millions of young girls to go out there and take up the same. sport, which is already growing at a rapid speed.

We have witnessed an all-time classic. And for the player of the match, it's one of the great innings in World Cup history. The BCCI President, Mr. Mittun Manas, will present today's Player of the Match Award to India's Jamima Rodericks. Jamima Rodriguez just getting her medal there. Let's hear from her now. As she takes India to the World Cup final, Jemmy, it's the stuff of dreams. I can imagine there's a lot of emotion in you right now.

What are your first thoughts? Firstly, I want to thank Jesus because I couldn't do this on my own. I know he carried me through today. I want to thank my mom, my dad, my coach and every single person who just believed in me throughout this time. It was really hard these last whole month, but it just feels like a dream and it's not sunken yet.

Take your time, Jamie. We'll get through this. You have played an absolute... All-time classic knock. Your team is here. I want you to just try and take us through the innings itself. So much emotion, but you also batted three. At what point were you told you're going to be batting three

to process that, the emotion of the stage? Take us through that. I actually didn't know I was batting at three. I was still at five. I was taking a shower. And then the discussion was happening, so I just told them, let me know. So just before entering in, before, like, I think five minutes before entering in, I got to know I'm batting at three.

But I didn't think about me, it was not for me to prove a point. It was just for me to win this match for India because we've always lost in crunch situations and I just wanted to be there till the end to take us through. I saw that in your 100 celebration as well, or rather your non-celebration, you were just focused on getting India over the line? Yeah, today was not about my 50 or my 100.

Today was about making India win. I know I got a few chances, but I just feel like God scripted everything and at the right time and you do things at the right intention. He always blesses and I just felt everything that happened so far were just to set up for this. You make your own luck. I won't talk about the opportunities. Yes, they were there.

But take us through the emotion of what you've just said. It is your first World Cup, but it's not been an easy World Cup. In and out of the side, back at number three, today a different balance as well. How did you deal with all those emotions and what came out today? Yeah, firstly, last year I was dropped from this World Cup. This year I came in, I thought, okay, I'll try and I was in good form. take it more, but things back to back just kept happening and I couldn't control anything. I had such amazing people around me who believed in me. I've almost cried every day throughout

this tour. I was not doing well mentally, going through a lot of anxiety. Then being dropped was another challenge for me. But I think all I had to do was show up and God just took everything, care of everything. You're so brave and you're an inspiration for just speaking about it so openly, Jamie. Through the innings though, you keep talking to yourself. You keep talking to yourself. you almost motivate yourself, there's a lot of messages to the crowd as well. Just take me through what you keep telling yourself through and things like that. Yeah, I think initially I was just playing, I was doing, I just keep talking to myself. But towards the end I was just quoting one scripture from the Bible because I had lost energy, I was very tired.

I was drained, but one scripture that says, just stand still and God will fight for you. And that's what I did, I just stood there and he fought for me. Can you, I know it's only been a few minutes, but can you try and put towards what you felt when that winning moment was finally played. I think there was just a lot inside of me left. It was really hard, but I just tried to stay calm till the ball finishes.

And at the end, just seeing that India win by five wickets, I think I couldn't stop myself. What were you telling the new batters? Because India have also fallen short when they've been ahead in chases. It was important. All that hard work leads to the result. Were you communicating with Amun Jodh and Richer before that?

So when Harry D came, all we spoke were one good partnership. We just stand runs are coming. But towards the end, actually, If you would have seen, I was not able to, I was trying to push myself, I'm not able to do. I told Dipti, Dipti keep speaking to me. Dipti, every ball was speaking to me and encouraging me. Then Ritcha came, she started lifting me up.

So, you know, I am so blessed that I have, when I cannot carry on, my teammates, encourage me to carry on, and I can't take credit for anything of this. I know I've done nothing. A word for your home crowd that I'm sure kept you encouraged. Navi Mumbai has always been special for me. And I couldn't ask for anything better. I would like to thank each and every member who chanted, who shouted, who believed, who cheered every single time. Even when I was down and out, but for every run, they were cheering, it pumped me up.

So thank you for everyone who came in large numbers and everyone who supported. Jamie, we need to thank you for witnessing that inning. Jamima Ivan Rodriguez, in your first World Cup, you've taken India to the World Cup final. Well done. Thank you. Jamima Rodriguez then, no surprise to be named player of the match for that unbeaten, 127 Nikashrugani still alongside Abyshek Junjuanwala and Stephen Finn here and Finney we've seen the crowds inside the DIY battle this evening nearly 35,000 people inside the stadium. India, the home side through to the final. We saw lots of young children, didn't we, in the crowd, lots of young girls in particular. I mean, India getting to the final, what do you think that will do for women's cricket? Not just in India, but around the world as well with the money that India. has the potential to generate and the sponsorship that they're able to bring

with things like TV rights and, you know, so on. And what if they go on and win it? Well, yeah. It's going to be monumental, isn't it? And yeah, look at the development of the WPL and the way that the game has been pushed forward as a result of that. This is another step on that ladder. I think when you look at the men's game and the inception of the IPL

and the amounts of cricket that India play in order to generate that revenue for the world game has pushed it forward and this is exactly the same thing happening in front of our eyes but I think that the growth in this will be even more steep than that on the men's side of things so it's amazing it's inspiring it's incredible the pace at which the women's game is moving forward and it can only be a good thing yeah I think so I think you're absolutely spot on I think at the pace which with the women's cricket is growing it's unbelievable and if you go to India and you see the girls who are going to play and they now started playing on the streets as well

with the boys which never used to happen. When we used to grow up, when we were growing up, our sisters were not allowed to go and play on the road. Now you see so many girls want to play with the boys in the local areas and the local streets because they all aspire. They want to be Jamima Rodriguez. They want to be Adipti Sharma.

They want to become one of those cricketers and there is a proper career now for these girls to go and play the WPL. So I think if India goes on to win this World Cup, this will change the whole. I think in general this will change women cricket in terms of the commercial aspect. The game is growing at a rapid pace worldwide but I think commercial aspect

could change very, very drastically for everyone. And it's the visibility as well, isn't it? It's people being able to see what they want to aspire to be and having the stage to be able to do this in front of the people live in the ground and through the broadcast and people are listening to it through us

the ability that these women have to inspire the next generation is something that will grow at an absolutely rapid pace as well. Absolutely. And with regards to this tournament in particular, then, India through to the final to face South Africa, both of these sides, and we'll look ahead to the final in just a moment, both of these sides peaking, it seems, at the right time. India of sort of scraped through to the semi-finals after consecutive defeats after winning their first couple of games and things were looking a bit iffy going to those last few games, but they've managed to get over. over the line. And they've now beaten the world champions. They're now up against South Africa,

who themselves got off to a terrible start, 69 all out against England, then went on a run of winning their next five games. Two sides in peak form going head to head. I mean, Australia had their chances, didn't they today? Let's be honest about that. India rode their luck with the bat. There were dropped chances. There were missed runout opportunities. But you've got to take your luck in these big games. And that's what India have done today, and they've not been able to do that previously, they've so many times fallen at the final hurdle or the semi-final hurdle against teams like Australia because the pressure has got too much. They seem like a new side here. This is New India, isn't it? It's New India. And I think we talk about the development of the game,

the fact that India have been able to shuffle and chop and change their team a little bit, not be affected by people being injured as much as maybe it would have done before. And I think that that is as a result of the amount of exposure, the WPL and things like that has given the people that are underneath that top international level, which I think pushes the people in the team to always strive to get better, which is a very healthy position to be in. But certainly coming to this stage of the tournament, having just won a game like that, will give India so much confidence because I think it's fair to say if there was a win predicted, they would have ended India down in the 15, 20%

maybe at the halfway stage and that's without the historical context of Australia having won so many of those kinds of battles so for them to have done it and done it in the manner with which they did is mighty impressive and something that will give them heart going into the final

but it has to be remembered how well South Africa played in their semi-final I think we're in for a cracker. Absolutely and new champions we're going to see on Sunday as well because only three sides have ever won the women's ODI World Cup. New Zealand have won it once.

And pretty much the rest of the time it's been England or Australia. Australia have won seven titles. England have won four. It's been a bit of a closed shot, the women's game as well. What do you think this will do now to a broader audience who are so used to seeing England or Australia battling it out for these World Cups? We've now got a final with neither of them involved. Yeah, absolutely.

I think, see, you need that in any sport. You need new champions all the time to get more and more people involved, more countries involved. and that's how the sport grows and now we'll have a new champion who will it will be we'll have to wait till Sunday it will be India or South Africa both are in terrific form

as you mentioned they're both peaking at the right time but I just feel that because India won a game like this and the confidence they're going to carry in South I'm not saying because South Africa is not carrying the confidence they beat England brilliantly as well but the way India played this game

and the way they won against seven-time world champions that should give them so much confidence going into. And also the home advantage is always there. They're going to play in the same stadium, Indy Vi Patel with the 35,000 people, probably more people trying to get in now, with India being in the final and cheering every single delivery being bowled, every single ball being faced by the Indian batters, is going to be a difficult one for South Africa.

More people trying to get in. It kind of reminds me of the old days at stadiums like Eden Gardens with a concrete benches where the official capacity might be 100,000, You probably get 200,000 in. Not going to happen here. You're listening to the TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. Right, let's head now to the presentation. Mel Jones is in place.

And first we're going to hear from Australian Captain Alyssa here. I look at Australia and India over probably the last two years or so. It feels as if you two sides just bring out the best each other and push each other right to the limit each and every single time. Yeah, I mean, good contest in the end, I think. Probably reflecting on that, we did that to ourselves a little bit. It's probably the first time that I felt like we've done that. So we didn't, probably didn't finish off with the bat,

didn't bowl that great and dropped all the chances in the field and still hung in there until the second last over. So, I mean, we can take something out of that, but ultimately outdone in the end. Let's start with the runs on the board, 3-38. In this year alone, there's been 22, 300-plus scores. It feels as if it's almost not enough these days against sides, where, you know, setting or chasing.

When you got that 3-3-8, what was the thoughts there? Yeah, I thought, you know, we half done the job. I thought we probably left a few out there at the back end, fell away a little bit in the last 10. But in saying that 3.30, still a good wicket. I thought if we could execute with the ball, hold on to our chances that we were well in the game. We just weren't able to capitalize on that, but is what it is. I thought India played really well, held their nerve quite well right throughout that innings and ultimately got themselves over the line.

Speaking of holding your nerve, you've got someone like Phoebe Litchfield still relatively new into her career and she walks out in a semi-final like this and you'll watch her play. Is there sort of moments where you think you're seeing just the next generation of Australia player and almost a player that has shifted the game forward a little bit in terms of batting? Oh yeah, I mean when you're seeing players my age walk away from the game, it's kind of a weird experience for me to sort of stand there and watch and watch the next generation go about it. We saw it out there with India bat in hand as well.

Thought Febes was sensational today, set us off, you know, really nicely in that front end and then was able to cash in with 100, which I thought was really crucial. So kudos to her. It's been fun to watch her unfold. And I think, you know, the next four years leading into the next ODI World Cup is going to be really exciting to watch. The other change in batting, I think, is sort of that number six, number seven position. I think Ash Gardner has completely owned it this World Cup. You don't get someone who hits 300 plus runs, batting at six or lower as well.

So you've sort of got, you know, the top and the middle world. sort of. Yeah, I think there's going to be more and more opportunities for those guys moving forward. Like I said, the next four years of this cycle leading into the next World Cup, you know, it could see a little bit of change and I think that's going to be really exciting for our group and seeing these young players get more opportunities. So I thought Ash had a sensational tournament. And yeah, I think everyone contributed beautifully throughout this tournament. That's why it's probably really disappointing to be standing here right now. How stretched were you as a captain today in the field?

Yeah, stretch. I think we created enough. We created pressure. We created all. We created opportunities. We just weren't able to capitalize and, you know, I'm at fault of that as well. And I think that's something that Australia really prides themselves on and we kind of let ourselves down in that regard today. So that's probably why it's disappointing. I felt a little bit similar this time last year sort of going out, playing, you know, not the way that we wanted to play. So we'll learn from that, we'll grow and I think one day create will hopefully improve since. It's always tough to summarize a World Cup when you go out in the semi, but when you look at the whole campaign, how do you sort of, you know, put in a sentence or two

how this team has played? I think we've played some unbelievable cricket. And, you know, ultimately, like we've been saying the whole time, the semi-final is a knockout game. If you don't quite turn up on that evening, you know, anyone's going to get you the top four teams or the top four teams for a reason. So there was so much to be proud of this World Cup. I'm really proud of our group and every single player's contribution.

I think somebody came in every game and got a job done for us. So I think that's really cool. Yeah, that's probably why it stings a little bit more, having this conversation with you right now, knowing that we are playing really good cricket, but we just weren't able to get over that hurdle. I'm certainly not retiring anyone off from the Australian team, but it's probably fair to say that if you won't be travelling around

for the next World Cup in four years' time as well. I won't be there, Mel. There you go, okay. So how do you balance that conversation in a room of disappointment now, but the excitement of the new players coming through and potentially some retirements as well? I think that's the beauty of this next cycle. We're going to see that unfold.

Obviously, there's a T20 World Cup middle of next year, which is going to be really exciting for our group as well, but I think our one day cricket is probably going to shift a little bit again. We'll learn from what we did wrong tonight. I thought we did so much right throughout this World Cup. We'll learn from that. We'll grow, we'll get better. And like I said, the opportunity for potentially some young players

to get greater opportunities in this side is a really exciting thing for Australian cricket. Well, Australia's set the bar higher and higher each and every year and it's allowed teams to chase you and pick up wins like this. So thank you for your contribution to an amazing tournament and we'll see you next time. Thanks, Bill. Thank you, Alisa Healey.

And then I've got the pleasure of inviting in Haman Preakur, the captain of India. I'm going to start with there's not a dry eye here, D-YP-TEL. There's probably not a dry eye in India at the moment. How proud are you of this team? Yeah, I'm absolutely very proud. I don't have words how to express myself, but feeling great. This time we have part that line which we have been working hard for so many years. So yeah, it's amazing.

feeling. I can't believe this. I was expecting a hammer pretty cool. You know, absolutely beaming. You've just knocked off the seven-time World Cup champions, current World Cup champions. You're into a semi-final of a magnificent display. What was the first thing that you turned to and you spoke to your coach? I saw you were very, very close to him then. What was the first thing that he said to you and you said to him? Well, we spoke to each other that, you know, we have done this because we have been working so hard and both of us really proud of team and we have that trust that each and every player that you know this every player can win any match any time in any situation and we made few mistakes in

this in this tournament but end of the day we have been learning from our mistakes and today was the day where we wanted to go everything you know in our favor and in in every situation we are working hard we were just keep telling ourselves just be there be there for the team and I think that thing really worked for us Talk us through how you just refocused the team too, because you spoke about the mistakes. You lost three on the trot. And one of those was against England where you're in a very similar situation as you were tonight,

needing 50 or 50 with wickets in hand. How did you, before we get to that point of that run chase tonight, how did you just keep everyone focused on the plan for India coming into the centre? Yeah, that day we had realized that, you know, we didn't execute ourselves really well, especially in the last five hours. We were late by two or three hours. We could have taken a bit more risk a few overs earlier, but I think that really cost us and that what we all discussed in the team room that we had to really be calculative because once you are, you know, out of the game, it's very hard to come back because I know it's a 50 over game, you have a lot of chances to keep coming back if you're making mistakes, but last five over something where you have to be very particular, you know, you have to be very calculative. I think we all spoke, we all knew that, you know, what we had to do. again come in again in the same situation

and today were the same thing. We wanted to finish this before 50th over and that exactly happened. You also spoke about the in-players taking responsibility and accountability for their position out there and kicking on. I think it's fair to say anyone who watched tonight and saw Gemmy Roderick's innings

in at number three, she hasn't batted there too often. That was one of these special innings in one-day internationals. Yeah, definitely. Jamima is someone who always want to do really well for the team because she's someone, you know, always very calculative and wants to take the responsibility and we always have that trust on her and today was a very special knock from her and we both of us had a

very good time on the pitch. Whenever we were batting, we were just, you know, complimenting each other and calculating and she was doing all the calculation there for me and I think that was something she's always in the game and really enjoy batting with her. So she's the methodetician out there doing all the hard work. She's someone, you know, who Before I go, she's always keep telling me, we got five runs, we got seven runs, now two more bowl left. Before I say anything, she's already saying it to me. So I think that shows how involved she is.

And I was just so amazed to see what she was thinking and how she was even pushing myself. So I think we should give lots of credit to her the way, you know, she kept her hold on earth and, you know, keep batting for the team. I couldn't chat to you post a semi-final win and not talk about just history repeating itself, isn't it? Back in 2017, you did it against Australia there at Derby. You've done it again today, but you just want to change the next result now, don't you?

Yeah, definitely. Now one more game to go, and today is, you know, we all played well. We are really happy with the result. Now, already we have started speaking about our next game. So I think that shows how focused we are and how we are keen to win this World Cup because playing in home condition is, it's very special to us and we just want to give it to our fans, to our families who have been playing for us for so many years.

I think this is a great time for us to deliver for our fans and family and hopefully we'll, you know, one more game to go and we'll keep giving our best. An electric crowd tonight. They were heaving right from the start. They were right behind you, and you can expect that on Sunday as well, can you? Yeah, definitely. We are not playing alone.

They are always with us. and we are so proud that every game they are coming and, you know, pushing us and I think they've been amazing even though when we lost, we were keep getting messages that this World Cup is not end, you guys are amazing and you can change the result any day, any time. And I think that really shows how involved even they are with us. So I think we are not alone, entire countries with us.

Well, I can see the internal battle at the moment. I know you really want to celebrate this. So celebrate that well, but know that you've got a World Cup final coming up in a couple of days' time. Congratulations. Thank you so much. Thank you. So that was Mel Jones

with the two captains there, Alyssa Healy and the victorious Hamrin Preet Corps, who is visibly emotional there. Melissa, story, back in alongside myself, Nikeshragani and Abyshech, Junjunwalo. And Melissa, we saw the emotional scenes there

from India after that result and what a result it was. Record run chase to beat Australia, the seven-time champions in the semi-final. Of course, it's going to hit these players hard. They've got to recover ahead of Sunday. There's one more match to go against South Africa.

They've got a chance here to be champions of the world, India. How do they now prepare for that match in front of another probably capacity crowd at the D.Y. Battle Stadium? I mean, I think they've got to take time to process what has happened this evening because it has been the unthinkable

in terms of toppling these giants of the women's game. And take the time to celebrate that. And for Jimmy Rodriguez as well, that's probably the peak of her career particularly but as you say you then at some point need to go right well we've still got one more game to go and this

will probably be in their opinion their best chance of lifting the World Cup because I don't think anyone would have thought what we would be seeing in India's South Africa final from the start of the competition it's almost been pinned in that Australia would be there in the final so

it's this reassessment and actually when India and South Africa played each other in the group stages South Africa came out on top, but it was a thrilling game with Nadine DeClerc getting South Africa over the line. They also need to do with the baggage of that, because as we saw with the England's South Africa semi-final

where England completely rattled through South Africa in the group stages and then South Africa repaid them in the knockout game, you've got to shake off any preconceptions, any baggage you have and go into that final with a fresh mindset. Absolutely. We mentioned Nadine DeClerc there. They've got

some other gun players in that line up, South Africa, Laurel Warwark, making 169 in that match against England. Marizan Cap now the record wicket taker in Women's World Cups with 44 overtaking Julan Goswami. They've got some brilliant, brilliant

players scattered through the side. Chloe Tryon in the middle order. I mean, what a dangerous player. She can be an all-round player. So India know what South Africa's threats are. Do you still see India as favourites? I think so. I think so given the home condition. And also the biggest question mark with Indian cricket has been

they don't know how to cross the line under pressure situations. They just crumble under pressure in these moments when it comes to the semi-final or the big situations and they have managed to somehow get over that and this should give them a lot of confidence going into the final. And home conditions always make

a massive difference. They are playing exactly where they played this game. They've had two really good wins in D.Y Partle first with New Zealand, getting over 300 and now chasing the highest total in the history of the World Cup in women's cricket. So I think they should be the favorite. They will

be the favorite not should be the favorite they will be the favorites but again it boils down to how you perform on the day it's a it's a world cup final who can take the pressure better who can come out there and you know perform on that day that's exactly what alice ahili said as well and there's a final word from you 1.5 billion indians will be willing them on 35 000 people in the stadium can india handle that type of pressure in that situation on sunday I think they can because the crowd tonight felt like an extra player for India so if they can take that momentum and that noise with them it's going to be really tough for these South African players

dealing with their own final pressure to contend with that noise and support for India so we've got a side who in India I think have peaked at exactly the right time and we still despite the records broken in the semi-final have not had a perfect performance that's threatening up against South Africa who are probably one of the scrappiest sides and won't go down without a fight

so I mean there's so much to look forward to in this final all set up for a brilliant final on Sunday my thanks to Melissa Story to Abyshec Junjunwala to Stephen Finn to Alice Davidson Richards and from myself Nick Eshragani thank you very much for listening to our coverage here from Navi Mumbai

will of course have full ball by ball commentary for you of India versus South Africa, that women's World Cup final on Sunday live from 9.15 a.m. UK time across the BBC on BBC Sounds on BBC 5 Sports Extra, across the ABC and the ICC app and website as well. But for now, thanks very much for listening and goodbye. You're listening to the TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live.