Harmanpreet Kaur was the star for India as she smashed an unbeaten 171 to help her country post 281-4 from 42 overs in a weather affected semi-final at the County Ground in Derby.

Her innings included 20 fours and seven sixes and took just 115 balls to compile her score, the highest by someone from her nation in a World Cup match.

Kaur’s ton was brought up in a peculiar scene where she threw her bat and helmet to the ground believe her batting partner Deepti Sharma had not made it back for a quick two.

However, the incident went up to the third umpire and video footage showed Sharma had made her ground before the stumps were broken by the ball, leading to her team-mate getting to celebrate a century while also making an apology to her friend.

Australia’s response was in trouble from the start when they lost three early wickets – Beth Mooney, captain Meg Lanning and Nicole Bolton – for the price of just 21 runs.

Ellyse Perry and Elyse Villani looked to have got their side back into proceedings with a 105 run partnership for the fourth wicket, but the latter’s departure for 75 sparked another collapse which saw the Australians find themselves on 169-9.

Alex Blackwell restored some pride for her team as she sent the ball crashing to the boundary on multiple occasions, ending on 90 from 56 balls.

But when she was bowled by Sharma, India wrapped up the victory and earned their place in a Women’s World Cup final for the first time since 2005.

They meet England at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on Sunday (July 23), with organisers saying the match is sold-out.

The sides met in the tournament’s opening match, with India pulling off a 35 run victory.