Alyssa Healy's Stunning Century Leads Australia to Historic ODI Victory Over India
Australia's Remarkable Chase
In Visakhapatnam, Australia triumphed over India by three wickets, successfully chasing down a record 331 runs, marking the highest target ever achieved in women's ODI cricket. Captain Alyssa Healy played a pivotal role, scoring an impressive 142 runs off 107 balls, which included 21 boundaries and three sixes, setting a new record for the highest score in a run-chase against India.
India's Strong Start
Australia's achievement surpasses the previous record held by Sri Lanka, who chased down 302 runs against South Africa last year. With this victory, Australia leads the table with three wins and one draw from four matches. Meanwhile, India, after initial victories against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, has faced two consecutive losses against South Africa and Australia, placing them in third position.
Key Performances
Healy's innings was supported by Phoebe Litchfield, who contributed 40 runs. After Litchfield's dismissal by Shree Charani, Ellyse Perry came in but had to retire hurt at 154/1. India briefly rallied as Deepti Sharma dismissed Beth Mooney and Charani took out Annabel Sutherland, but Healy found support from Ashleigh Gardner, who scored 45 runs, helping Australia surpass 260 runs.
When Healy was dismissed at 265, India saw a glimmer of hope, reducing Australia to 303/7. However, Perry returned to finish the match with Kim Garth, sealing the victory with a six.
India's Batting Highlights
Earlier, Australia opted to bowl first after winning the toss. India’s openers, Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana, set a solid foundation with a 155-run partnership. Rawal scored 75 runs, while Mandhana added 80 runs. Despite their strong start, India struggled to maintain momentum, ultimately being bowled out for 330 runs.
Mandhana's performance was particularly noteworthy as she became the second Indian woman to reach 5,000 ODI runs, achieving this milestone in just 112 innings, making her the youngest and fastest to do so.
Milestones and Records
Mandhana's remarkable year continued as she surpassed 1,000 runs in a calendar year, a feat she achieved with an average of 59.00 and a strike rate of 112.85. Her recent performances against Australia have been stellar, with five consecutive scores over 50.
Additionally, Annabel Sutherland celebrated her 50th ODI wicket, achieving career-best figures of 5/40 in this match, becoming the first player to take a five-wicket haul in women's ODIs on her birthday.
Match Summary
In summary, India scored 330 runs (Mandhana 80, Rawal 75; Sutherland 5/40) and Australia chased down the target with 331/7 (Healy 142, Perry 47*; Charani 3/41).