Alyssa Healy-led Australia went past England’s 33-year-old record to smash a record six hundreds in a single Women’s ODI World Cup edition, with England registering five in the 1993 edition of the tournament.
Star batter Phoebe Litchfield’s blistering 119, along with fluent half-centuries from Ellyse Perry (77) and Ashleigh Gardner (63), powered Australia to a commanding 339-run target against a sloppy India in the second Women’s World Cup semifinal in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.
Unfazed by an early setback, Litchfield powered her way to a 77-ball hundred, her third in ODIs, laying the foundation for Australia’s imposing total.
There was not an area which Litchfield did not explore for runs and there was hardly a stroke she didn’t execute to perfection.
A master of the reverse sweep, Litchfield thought her knock had ended on 62 when she appeared to offer a catch to Amanjot Kaur off Charani’s bowling in the 16th over. However, she was soon called back after replays confirmed the ball had bounced before reaching the fielder at short third man.
Notably, Litchfield’s century in the semifinal was her team’s sixth in the ongoing edition of the World Cup, with Ashleigh Gardner and Healy scoring two apiece, besides Beth Mooney scoring another one.
Australia’s run-making spree was key to their unbeaten run till the semifinals, with the defending champions winning all their games, while one match was washed off.
Back in 1993, the England women’s team were the only side that scored any hundreds throughout the tournament. Janette Brittin and Carole Hodges scored two centuries each, while Helen Plimmer scored another one.
England beat New Zealand in the final that year at Lord’s to win the title.
Most individual centuries in a single Women’s ODI World Cup edition
6 – Australia in 2025
5 – England in 1993
5 – England in 2017
In the 2017 edition of the tournament, Nat Sciver-Brunt scored two hundreds, while Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight and Sarah Taylor scored one apiece. England beat India in the final at Lord’s that year.
