Harmanpreet Kaur hit an incredible 171 not out as India disposed of holders Australia by 36 runs and set up a dream Women's World Cup final with hosts England at Lord’s on Sunday.

India, riding on Kaur thunder, scored a massive 282-4 in a rain-reduced 42-over per side second semifinal at Derby, with bad weather and a sodden outfield delaying the scheduled start by more than two hours.

Australia, in their chase, were off to horrible start, losing three wickets for 21 runs that including their star performer and captain Meg Lanning for a duck from where they had never recovered despite a century stand for the fourth wicket followed by a late assault from Alex Blackwell. The 33-yar-old Blackwell threatened to turned the game on its head with 56-ball 90 before being bowled by Sharman in the first ball of the penultimate over. They were eventually bowled out for 245 in 40.1 overs.

Kaur's 171 was her third ODI century, the first outside of India and her highest ever score, coming off 115 balls and including 20 fours and seven sixes.

"I wanted to utilise this opportunity. I wanted to prove myself. My plan was watching the ball and just hitting it hard. This is what I was doing. I wanted to hit and rotate the strike," said 28-year-old Kaur.

India looked on to score under 200 until Kaur cut loose late on in the innings. She required only 26 balls to move from her half-century to triple figures, when she was almost run out scampering a two to reach the landmark.

That scare and the wicket of Deepti Sharma did little to deter her, using only 18 balls to then bring up 150, as she ensured Australia would need to complete the biggest chase in World Cup history to progress and England in Sunday's sell-out final at Lord's.

Kaur was particularly harsh against Jess Jonassen against whom she clobbered 45 runs from just 20 balls - the most any batsman has hit off one bowler in an innings in this World Cup. Kaur hit Jonassen for three sixes and four fours. Ellyse Perry was only bowler off whom Kaur scored under run-a-ball.