Litchfield ton guides Australia to 338 in World Cup semis / Photo: Punit PARANJPE - AFP
-
RSC’s ‘Julius Caesar’ Reimagined in Women’s Prison Setting for School Tour
-
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees Announced; Attendance List Shrinks
-
Thomson Reuters Integrates CUBE Regulatory Intelligence into CoCounsel Legal
-
Below Deck alumnus João Franco and brother arrested after fatal Turkey fight
-
Ole Miss inquiry expands after video and monkey-noise allegations
-
Thousands of Urban Homes Left Without High-Speed Internet Due to Broadband Blackspots
-
General Hospital actor Randall England dies at 75
-
Bunnie XO artwork taken down from Jelly Roll’s Nashville bar
-
London museum removes Russell Brand hair exhibit after rape conviction
-
Arlington sentinel rebukes Pete Hegseth entourage for laughter near memorial
-
Yella Beezy sentenced to life for arranging rapper Mo3’s murder
-
Kylie Jenner employee describes closet ordeal and pepper-spray incident
-
Authorities to identify Montauk Mary and five other Long Island cold-case victims
-
Davante Adams injury deepens Los Angeles Rams receiver shortage
-
Barbie sequel negotiations stall over reported $25 million pay packages
-
João Franco’s earlier post draws attention after arrest over fatal Turkey brawl
-
Bath & Body Works launches buy-one-get-one-free candle offer
-
Alberta Launches $5M Fund for Women’s Neurology Research to Address Gender Gaps
-
Itlu Arjuna receives U/A certificate ahead of theatrical release
-
Dhananjaya de Silva guides Sri Lanka to 221-4 against Pakistan
-
Niraj Kumar earns Los Angeles Olympic quota with 50m rifle bronze
-
Delhi gold loses Rs 800 while silver falls Rs 5,000
-
India extends micro-credit guarantee plan for five years
-
Madlanga Commission Deadline Extended to 2027 Amid Calls for Structural Justice Reform
-
Pradeep Antony, Smeha Manimegalai portray secret spouses in Mr & Mrs Office
-
Zelenskyy arrives in Dublin for meetings on Ukraine and peace efforts
-
Woman barred from every Greggs outlet after series of offences
-
Jury hears social-media image helped identify teen in Scarlett Faulkner case
-
Ketchup packets link suspect to break-in at Eddie Rocket’s restaurant
-
American Airlines passenger falls ill and vomits on three travellers
-
OPEC Says Oil Output Is Near Prewar Levels Despite Shipping Disruptions
-
US Inflation Broadens as Fed Officials Consider Faster Rate Hikes
-
China's Singles' Day Exposes Persistent Consumer Caution
-
China's Trade Surplus Passes $1 Trillion as Technology Exports Surge
-
Energy Costs Push OECD Inflation Up to 4.5%
-
Bank of England Raises Interest Rate to 4% as Energy Risks Intensify
-
US Adds 165,000 Jobs as Unemployment Falls to 4.1%
-
China's Factory Inflation Accelerates While Consumer Demand Stays Weak
-
Euro-Area Inflation Reaches 4% as Energy Prices Jump
-
Spain's General Strike Links Housing Crisis to Lost Purchasing Power
-
Irish police prepare for further hoax bomb threats after hundreds of schools targeted
-
Korea, Singapore and New Zealand Advance Green Trade Pact Talks
-
RBA Inflation Target Origins: Why Australia Chose a Range Over Zero
-
Ireland and Ukraine consider drone cooperation memorandum after Dublin talks
-
Sister recounts fatal machete attack as Irish murder trial continues
-
Georgia refrigeration company sues EPA after five-year HFC reprieve
-
HoloCoder technology promises brighter smartphone images and 3D depth data
-
EU proposes broad consumer safeguards for apps, subscriptions and ticketing
Litchfield ton guides Australia to 338 in World Cup semis
Opener Phoebe Litchfield hit a sparkling century to steer Australia to a mammoth total of 338 against India in the second semi-final of the Women's World Cup on Thursday.
After Australia elected to bat in overcast conditions, Litchfield smashed 119 off 93 balls as the seven-time champions racked up the runs at the DY Patil Stadium.
Hosts India struck regular blows after a second-wicket partnership of 155 between Litchfield and Ellyse Perry, who made 77 after overturning an early lbw decision.
But Ashleigh Gardner ensured that Australia's good start did not go to waste as she contributed a brisk 63 before the last three wickets fell in the final over.
Spinners Shree Charani and Deepti Sharma took two wickets each.
Australia's Alyssa Healy returned as captain after she missed the team's last two league matches, but she scored just five before being bowled by Kranti Gaud.
Healy's wicket followed a brief rain interruption but Litchfield stood firm and took the attack to the opposition with some delightful hitting that included 17 fours and three sixes from the left-hander.
The 22-year-old Litchfield hit a four off Charani to reach her first World Cup century and third in ODI cricket. She launched two sixes off Deepti before Amanjot Kaur bowled her while attempting a lap sweep.
Perry and Beth Mooney, who made 24, attempted to rebuild but Charani hit back with two quick wickets to raise India's hopes of a turnaround in the innings.
A nearly packed house at the 45,000-capacity stadium erupted when left-arm spinner Radha Yadav bowled Perry, but Gardner had other ideas.
Gardner tore into the attack in the final few overs as she hit four fours and four sixes.
Both teams wore black armbands in support of promising 17-year-old Australian cricketer Ben Austin, who died Thursday after being struck with a ball while training in Melbourne.
India have twice been runners-up, in 2005 and 2017 -- when they beat Australia in the semi-finals before losing to England.
Since that semi-final defeat Australia have recorded 15 ODI World Cup wins in a row.
The winner will face South Africa, who beat England in the first knockout tie, in the final at the same venue on Sunday.
S.Gregor--AMWN
