![Fastest centuries in Women's World Cup knockouts [Source: @JohnyBravo183, @AusWomenCricket, @lilbrownykid/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1761827279014_alyssa_healy.jpg?type=hq)
Fastest centuries in Women's World Cup knockouts [Source: @JohnyBravo183, @AusWomenCricket, @lilbrownykid/x]
Phoebe Litchfield triggered absolute mayhem against hosts India Women in the second semifinal of the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in Navi Mumbai. Batting first alongside captain Alyssa Healy, young Litchfield notched up a historic century (from just 77 balls) to dent India’s prospects early in the knockout game.
Celebrating Phoebe Litchfield’s exhilarating innings, here is a look at four batters with the fastest centuries to their names in the history of ICC Women’s World Cup knockout matches.
4. Alyssa Healy – 91 balls vs West Indies, 2022
Australian opener Alyssa Healy rained down a 91-ball century against West Indies Women in the first semifinal of the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup back in March 2022 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. The attacking right-hander clattered 129 runs in all from just 107 balls, unleashing 17 cracking boundaries and one huge six in the process against the likes of Hayley Matthews, Deandra Dottin and others. Alyssa Healy’s Wellington epic helped Australia mount 305-3 in a 45-over knockout game to obliterate West Indies by 157 runs. The seasoned opener was also fittingly adjudged the ‘Player of the Match’ for her efforts as Australia marched into yet another World Cup final.
3. Nat Sciver-Brunt – 90 balls vs Australia, 2022
England’s middle-order resolute Nat Sciver-Brunt waged her team’s lone rebellion against a blood-lusted Australian unit back during the final of the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Chasing a monumental 357 for a win after Alyssa Healy’s heroic 170 off 138 balls, Nat blasted 148 unbeaten runs in just 121 deliveries with 15 fours and a six to maintain a staggering strike rate of 122.31 on the celebrated evening. She even brought up her hundred from just 90 balls to record one of the fastest-ever centuries in the history of ICC Women’s World Cup knockout fixtures.
Despite the best of Nat Sciver-Brunt’s efforts, an otherwise lop-sided English team fell 71 runs short of their target to hand Australia yet another World Cup crown.
2. Harmanpreet Kaur – 90 balls vs Australia, 2017
Long before becoming India’s full-time ODI captain, Harmanpreet Kaur blew away then defending champions Australia in the semifinal of the 2017 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in Derby back in July 2017. Racing to her century in just 90 balls, the number four Indian batter whacked 171* from 115 deliveries with 20 fours and seven huge sixes as the ‘Women in Blue’ raced to 281-4 in a 42-overs-a-side game.
Harmanpreet Kaur smeared 103 of those runs from the final 40 balls she faced in the innings to dent Australia’s prospects of clinching yet another place in a World Cup final. Apart from headlining India Women’s 36-run win in the game, Harmanpreet’s mountainous knock of 171 also continues to remain the highest individual score ever recorded in any Women’s World Cup knockout fixture.
1. Phoebe Litchfield – 77 balls vs India, 2025
Young Australian opener Phoebe Litchfield broke the record of smashing the fastest-ever century in the history Women’s World Cup knockouts by a landslide. In a game featuring the return of senior partner and legendary opener Alyssa Healy after an injury, Litchfield grasped the spotlight for herself with her whirlwind 77-ball century, before finishing her innings at 119 from 93 balls against India in the second semifinal of the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. The 22-year-old clobbered 17 sizzling boundaries and three huge sixes against an in-form Indian attack at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
Phoebe Litchfield’s belligerent afternoon laid out a solid foundation for Australia in their quest of a successful title-defense.
