Jemimah Rodrigues produced a sensational knock that included 14 fours as India pulled off the biggest successful chase in women's ODI history with nine balls to spare.
Opener Alyssa Healy bludgeoned England's bowlers in a furious 170 as Australia set a mammoth victory target of 357 in the Women's World Cup final in Christchurch on Sunday.
Delhi Capitals' marquee signing KL Rahul is expected to miss the first two matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season
'I wouldn't bowl to him (Gill) in England, that's for sure.'
Seasoned all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner's commanding century and disciplined effort from the bowlers helped defending champions Australia thrash trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand by 89 runs in their ICC Women's World Cup opening match in Indore on Wednesday.
Back from a long injury lay-off, on the eve of the Women's Ashes, Healy confirmed that she would be ready to take on the wicketkeeping duties.
Cricket Australia will support any Aussie player who chooses not to return, as the focus shifts toward international duties -- particularly the World Test Championship final at Lord's on June 11.
India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur knows that fans have placed heaps of expectations on her side ahead of the upcoming ICC Women's ODI World Cup at home, and she wants to enjoy the moment without succumbing to the pressure to land a maiden title.
Jemimah Rodrigues struck a sensational century as hosts India reached the ICC Women's World Cup Final with a magical run-chase against Australia
'I think we have got a very settled batting lineup. Would not like to shuffle it around too much but when the need arises, you know we are flexible about it.'
Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma guided India to a historic 52-run victory over South Africa which saw the ICC Women's World Cup 2025 hosts lift the trophy for the first time.
'Alyssa is my most favourite Australian right now and not Mitch Starc. He is No. 2.'
Mitchell Starc has reportedly decided against returning to India for the remainder of IPL 2025, dealing a blow to his team Delhi Capitals' prospects of reaching the play-offs.
Australia earned a straightforward seven-wicket win over Pakistan in Tauranga despite a 99-run stand between Bismah Maroof and Aliya Riaz.
Poor execution with the bat undid India A's superb bowling performance as Australia A made a clean sweep
Australia will be without fast bowler Mitchell Starc for Saturday's final one-day international against South Africa after he was given permission to leave the tour to watch his wife Alyssa Healy compete in the women's T20 World Cup final. Healy will feature for Australia against India in the decider of the global T20 competition at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday, and will be able to count on the support of Starc.
Australia Women's team captain Alyssa Healy on Wednesday said that her husband and fast bowler Mitchell Starc deserved the record-breaking IPL paycheck as he has worked hard for many years.
The Indian women's cricket team will look to end a 47-year wait for its maiden ICC title when it takes the field at the ODI World Cup starting with a clash against Sri Lanka.
Australia's batters provided their experienced bowling unit with sufficient runs to defend on a slow wicket and register a comprehensive 60-run win over New Zealand in the Women's T20 World Cup in Sharjah on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Smriti Mandhana remained in third place while Laura Wolvaardt retained her top spot.
Defending champions Australia delivered a commanding performance to bowl out Pakistan for 82 and then cruised to a nine-wicket victory, virtually sealing a spot in the women's T20 World Cup semifinals, in Dubai on Friday.
Australia wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy wasn't sympathetic towards Harmanpreet Kaur following her bizarre run out in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in Cape Town.
The second ball of the opening over stunned Healy as Shikha bowled a ball that moved quite a distance after pitching outside off and then swung in considerably to hit the top of middle stump.
From the Southern Stars, Healy was deservingly chosen for her dominant show against all types of bowling in the recent series against New Zealand.
IMAGES from the WPL match between Delhi Capitals and UP Warriorz in New Delhi on Friday
Smriti Mandhana smashed the second-fastest ODI century by an Indian woman as the hosts handed Australia their heaviest defeat -- a 102-run thrashing -- in the second ODI.
The Harmanpreet Kaur-led India will be playing an ODI World Cup final for the third time, having finished runners-up in 2005 and 2017 to Australia and England, respectively. This will be South Africa's maiden appearance in the final.
IMAGES from the WPL encounter played between Royal Challengers Bangalore and UP Warriorz on Saturday
India along with New Zealand and Pakistan are in contention for the last remaining semi-final spot from Group A.
'A fair bit of shock and certainly excitement with how it was all unfolding, but nothing I could have ever imagined.'
Wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy smashed her way to a brilliant 133 off 115 balls with the Southern Stars piling up a massive 332 for 7.
India are going to be an "incredibly" dominant side for a long period of time and her visiting side can only underestimate the hosts at their own peril, Australia captain Alyssa Healy said on Wednesday, ahead of the one-off women's Test in Mumbai.
Schutt (3/12) also equalled South Africa's Shabnim Ismail's record scalp of 43 wickets across all editions of T20 World Cup.
Australia have now made it to the semi-finals of the global T20 tournament in all its nine editions held so far since 2009 in England.
Josh Inglis smashed a 43-ball century, Australia's fastest in the shortest format, as the visitors thrashed Scotland by 70 runs in the second Twenty20 International at The Grange, in Edinburg, to clinch the series with a game to spare on Friday.
Starc, who won the IPL last year with Kolkata Knight Riders, said having lack of information was also among the reasons he chose not to go back to India.
IMAGES from the Women's Premier League game in Bengaluru between Mumbai Indians and UP Warriorz on Wednesday
Australia's Alyssa Healy criticised India's decision to schedule the Women's T20 Challenge in November despite it clashing with the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL). The three-team Challenge tournament, which was introduced in 2018, has been staged on the sidelines of the popular men's Indian Premier League (IPL) in March to May, ensuring decent crowds and coverage.
Smriti Mandhana-led IPL Trailblazers compete against IPL Supernovas, to be captained by Harmanpreet Kaur.
Images from the Women's Premier League 2023 match between UP Warriorz vs Mumbai Indians played at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.
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