Four batters make centuries as Australian women's team smashes opposition for 596 in 50 overs

Scoring their runs at a rate of almost 12 per over, Tegan McPharlin, Sam Betts, Tabitha Saville and Darcie Brown all registered tons before Port Adelaide were bowled out for just 25

A cricket team from Adelaide has set what could be a world record 50-over score in the women's game.

Four Northern Districts batters reached their centuries as they piled on a total of 596 for three in their allocation against Port Adelaide in a first-grade match on Sunday.

Scoring their runs at a rate of almost 12 per over, Tegan McPharlin, Sam Betts, Tabitha Saville and Darcie Brown all registered tons in the SACA PC Statewide Super Women's 1st Grade encounter.

McPharlin led the way with 130 from 80 deliveries, Betts hit her 124 not out from 71, Saville needed 56 balls to make 120 and Brown finished unbeaten on 117 from 84.

Remarkably, only three sixes were hit in the entire innings, as well as 64 fours.

The Northern Districts scorecard

Northern Districts were given a helping hand by the 75 wides bowled by their opposition, who went on to lose by 571 runs after being bowled out for 25 in reply. Only eight of the Port Adelaide team batted. 

"It's pretty cool that, at the end of the day, we potentially have a world record," McPharlin was quoted as saying by local media.

"It's pretty unreal to make a total like that. At the time, we weren't chasing any records or trying to set any benchmarks in that way. We were just playing cricket shots."

"A few of us were wondering if it was a world record or whatever – it’s definitely a club record and we’re pretty sure it’s a SACA (SA Cricket Association) record,” Jets women's cricket director Jeanette Beazleigh said.

Port Adelaide's reply

"The club is excited. It was good to watch.

"You can have poor bowling but if you don’t play disciplined cricket, you’re still not going to get the runs."

Surrey's 496 for four against Gloucestershire in 2007 is the highest List A total of all time, while the top ODI score belongs to New Zealand's women, who hit Ireland for 490 for four in Dublin in June.