Prodigy hammers century as Aussies crush India in series-sweeping win
Australian batting prodigy Phoebe Litchfield struck her maiden international century to set up a crushing one-day victory over India in Mumbai on Tuesday night.
The 20-year-old from Orange hammered 119 runs from 125 balls, including 16 fours and a six, as Australia beat India by 190 runs to secure a series clean-sweep.
Litchfield and skipper Alyssa Healy (82 from 85) combined for an opening stand of 189, and although the Australians lost four wickets for only 27 runs in the middle overs, Litchfield and the lower order steadied the tourists at Wankhede Stadium.
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Australia posted 7-338 and skittled India for 148, following wins by six wickets and three runs in the first two matches of the series respectively.
Litchfield's knock of 119 followed scores of 78 and 63 in the first two one-dayers. She pulled out the reverse-sweep — a strength of hers — on 12 occasions and brought up her ton with a superb off-drive.
"I still play it no matter if it spins or not," Litchfield said of the reverse-sweep after her Mumbai heroics.
Phoebe Litchfield plays the reverse-sweep during her knock of 119. Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images
"It's more about the area of the ground I can access rather than [thinking] if it's spinning, and then if it is spinning it's probably a good option because it's hard to play with a straight bat."
Healy, Ellyse Perry (16), Beth Mooney (3) and Tahlia McGrath (0) fell in quick succession between the 29th and 36th overs, but Litchfield, Ashleigh Gardiner (30), Annabel Sutherland (23) and Alana King (26 not out) counter-attacked.
"I thought I was going to bring it up with Pez [Perry] as a fairytale," Litchfield said of her century.
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"But it took me a long time to get to the hundred and it was nerve-wracking to say the least. Then with the wickets falling around me it was a bit stressful. But I just stayed really calm. I probably scored each run in singles."
Leg-spinner Georgia Wareham took 3-23 in the victory.
Australia is now set for three T20s against India.
