Gone in 24 hours: Australia opener breaks day-old World Cup record with semi-final ton against India

Batting first after winning the toss, Australia's openers came out with dark clouds circling the stadium. Light showers appeared in the fifth over, and the players briefly walked off, but not before India got the big wicket of Alyssa Healy. However, it was Australia's batters who controlled the next phase of play.

Litchfield hits record-breaking century against India

The platform was laid by Phoebe Litchfield, who cracked a 77-ball ton, launching into the Indian batters with a flurry of boundaries. By the time she was done, dismissed in the 28th over, she hit 86 of her 119 runs in boundaries. 

A feature of her batting was how well she swept and reverse-swept, including a switch-hit six off Deepti Sharma, one of her three sixes. She fell trying to ramp a delivery off Amanjot Kaur, having put on a 155-run stand with Ellyse Perry.

In the process, she broke a number of records, including one set by Laura Wolvaardt just a day ago. Against England in the first semi-final, Wolvaardt became the youngest-ever (26 years, 186 days) to score a century in a knockout game of the Women's World Cup. Her 169 off 143 balls set the tone for South Africa's entry into the final. Litchfield eclipsed her, aged 22 years and 195 days.

If considering all knockout games in Women's ODIs, Litchfield still holds the record, beating Mithali Raj's 108* against Sri Lanka in the 2006 Asia Cup.

Women's World Cup: Youngest to score a century in a knockout match, full list

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