Phoebe Litchfield Smashes Record Century as Australia Post Highest Women's World Cup Semifinal Total
Record-Breaking Litchfield Leads Australia to Highest Women's World Cup Semifinal Total Phoebe Litchfield's blistering 119 off 93 balls powered defending champions Australia to a record-breaking 338-run total in the Women's World Cup 2025 semifinal against India at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday. The 22-year-old made history by becoming the youngest player ever to score a century in a Women's World Cup knockout match and the fastest centurion in the competition's history, reaching her milestone in just 77 balls.
Historic Record-Breaking Performance
Litchfield's stunning 77-ball century shattered the previous record held by England's Laura Wolvaardt, who had scored 169 at 26 years and 186 days in the first semifinal just a day earlier. By reaching her ton at 22 years and 195 days, Litchfield became the joint-youngest centurion in Women's World Cup history and only the third Australian woman (after Alyssa Healy and Karen Rolton) to score a hundred in a World Cup knockout stage.
Her innings featured 17 electrifying fours and three sixes, demonstrating an array of strokeplay that left the Indian attack bewildered. The left-hander's strike rate of 127.95 showcased aggressive intent right from the start, and she accumulated 86 of her 119 runs through boundaries alone.
The Record-Breaking Total
Australia's 338-run total is now the highest ever scored in a Women's World Cup semifinal, surpassing South Africa's 319 against England in the first semifinal at Guwahati earlier in the tournament. In the broader context of Women's World Cup knockouts with 300-plus totals, Australia's tally ranks second overall:
Team & Opponent Venue Total Year
Team & Opponent | Venue | Total | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
Australia vs England (Final) | Christchurch | 356/5 | 2022 |
Australia vs India (SF) | Mumbai (DYP) | 338 | 2025 |
South Africa vs England (SF) | Guwahati | 319/7 | 2025 |
Australia vs West Indies (SF) | Wellington | 305/3 | 2022 |
Perry and Gardner's Supporting Cast
While Litchfield stole the headlines, the foundation laid by veteran Ellyse Perry proved equally crucial. Perry scored a valuable 77 off 88 balls, featuring six fours and two sixes, in a 155-run second-wicket partnership with Litchfield that essentially decided the course of the match.
After Litchfield's departure in the 28th over, the experienced Gardner took center stage, smashing a quickfire 63 off just 45 balls with four sixes and as many fours. Gardner's fireworks came when Australia appeared to be losing momentum—from 220/2, they had slipped to 265/6 before Gardner's onslaught propelled them past 300.
India's Bowling Woes
India's bowling attack, which had been formidable throughout the tournament, simply had no answers to Australia's aggressive assault. Left-arm spinner Sree Charani provided the only respite, claiming 2/49 in a disciplined 3-0-9-2 spell that included the dismissals of Beth Mooney (24) and Annabel Sutherland (3).
However, India's primary strike bowlers struggled significantly. Pacer Kranti Gaud went for 158 runs from 20.2 overs, while fast bowler Renuka Singh couldn't find her familiar in-swing bowling. Deepti Sharma, typically India's highest wicket-taker, managed 2/73 despite taking two late wickets, unable to maintain consistency throughout the innings.
Early Struggles and Recovery
Australia's innings began under pressure when captain Alyssa Healy, returning from a calf strain after missing the last two group matches, fell cheaply to Kranti Gaud in the sixth over for just 5 off 15 balls. A brief rain shower had also interrupted proceedings, adding to the uncertainty.
But Litchfield's fearless approach immediately changed the narrative. Rather than consolidating, she attacked relentlessly, playing both conventional and unorthodox shots—including reverse sweeps, switch hits, and lofted drives over the infield. Her technical brilliance was matched by her confidence, and she never allowed India's bowlers to settle into a rhythm.
India's Fielding Lapses
India's fielding performance further compounded their bowling woes. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur spilled a regulation catch off Alyssa Healy in the third over, gifting the Australian opener a lifeline—though Healy eventually fell shortly after anyway. More costly errors followed, with India's generally tight fielding standards slipping at crucial moments against the aggressive Australian batting.
Record Against India
Litchfield's performance on Thursday was characteristic of her recent dominance against India. The young Australian has now scored 627 runs against India in ODIs at an average of 69.66 with a strike rate of 96.61, making her a particularly dangerous opponent for Harmanpreet Kaur's side.
The Challenge for India
India now face the daunting task of chasing 339 in pursuit of their first-ever Women's ODI World Cup title. While the hosts have shown resilience throughout the tournament—recovering from three straight group-stage losses to secure a semifinal berth—they will need their opening pair of Smriti Mandhana (tournament's leading run-scorer with 365 runs) and Shafali Verma (filling in for injured Pratika Rawal) to provide a strong foundation against Australia's experienced bowling attack.
The defending champions have rarely been beaten in World Cup knockouts, having won 34 consecutive knockout matches since their 2017 semifinal loss to India. On the evidence of Litchfield's masterclass, Australia appear well-positioned to continue that remarkable streak.