Phoebe Litchfield Creates World Cup History As Fastest, Youngest Centurion In Knockouts – Cricket.com

Phoebe Litchfield, on October 30 (Thursday), produced a batting masterclass in Navi Mumbai, smashing the fastest century ever scored in the knockout stages of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup. The Australian left-hander reached her hundred off just 77 deliveries against India Women in the 2025 semi-final, setting the stage alight with her stroke play.
After Australia won the toss and chose to bat, Litchfield got off to a blazing start, finding boundaries at will even as captain Alyssa Healy (5 off 15) fell early. Unfazed, Litchfield maintained a strike rate above 100 from the outset and raced to a 46-ball fifty before accelerating further. Her next fifty came off just 31 deliveries, completing her maiden World Cup hundred in spectacular fashion.
The milestone made the 22-year-old the youngest player ever to score a century in a Women’s World Cup knockout match and the second-youngest Australian to achieve a ton in tournament history. She also joined an elite group – becoming only the third Australian to score a hundred in a World Cup knockout game, after Healy and Karen Rolton.
This innings further solidified her dominance over India, with Litchfield now boasting eight fifties and three hundreds in 35 WODI innings – including four fifties and two centuries vs the Women in Blue. She is just the fifth Australian to register multiple tons against India in the format, joining Alex Blackwell, Rolton, Beth Mooney, and Healy.
Before falling to Amanjot Kaur for a brilliant 119 off 93 balls – laced with 17 fours and three sixes – Litchfield added a crucial 155-run stand for the second wicket with Ellyse Perry, putting Australia in complete control of the semifinal.
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