Litchfield hits World Cup record with 77-ball ton

Phoebe Litchfield made tournament history against India in the ODI women's World Cup semi-final and had a beaming smile to celebrate after hitting the fastest hundred in a World Cup knockout match.

Litchfield brought up her ton off 77 balls with a boundary and grinned from ear to ear with her family watching in the crowd.

It was her first World Cup hundred, second against India and third overall.

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"A semi-final knock of the highest class, this 22-year-old from Orange in NSW," Ian Bishop said on Amazon's coverage.

Earlier, Alyssa Healy made her much anticipated return from injury and was given an almost immediate reprieve by her rival Indian skipper.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Healy watched her opening partner Litchfield motor to eight runs off seven deliveries.

Renuka Singh Thakur then came in to bowl at Healy, who was on two, and forced a mistimed off-drive that was hit in the air.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur was at mid-off and had her body side-on to the ball, which sat perfectly at chest height.

Kaur went way too hard with her hands though and the ball juggled out behind her.

To make the drop even more dramatic, Kaur's follow through meant she ran at least three metres before falling over.

"She made all the ground, did all the hard work and I thought she had it for a moment," Bishop said on commentary before noting "the ground went silent" in Navi Mumbai.

Healy barely gave a reaction, offering a steely look. 

But India's Kranti Goud saved her captain in the sixth over, bowling Healy who chopped the ball on for five.

The wicketkeeper batter started the tournament in style with two centuries before missing the last two group matches with a calf injury.

After Healy's dismissal, the covers came on for the rain at 1-25. 

Play resumed quickly after and Australia looked like they'd be in trouble when Ellyse Perry was given out lbw.

Litchfield quickly ran down and told her to review, which brought a not out verdict.

The 22-year-old then pushed towards her century while Perry went along steadily at the other end.

Litchfield was dismissed for 119 off 93 balls when she tried to scoop Amanjot Kaur to fine leg.

Her departure came at 2-180 after a partnership of 155 with Perry, who was on 45 not out.