Skipper Alyssa Healy showcased a brilliant and gritty century as Australia achieved the highest-ever successful run chase in women’s ODI, securing a three-wicket win over India in their World Cup match on Sunday.
Healy (142 off 107 balls, 21 fours, 3 sixes) dominated the Indian bowlers, leading the seven-time champions to 331 for seven, surpassing India’s impressive 330, built on fifties by Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal.
The previous record for the highest successful run chase was Sri Lanka’s 302 against South Africa in 2024.
With this victory, Australia topped the table with seven points, while India remained third with four points.
Healy’s batting was marked by precise ball striking, thanks to her flexible wrists, allowing her to place the
ball accurately.
Before this match, Healy had an average record against pacer Kranti Gaud, but this time she hit the Indian for a six and three fours in one over, breaking the hold.
Sneh Rana tried fuller lengths to limit Healy’s room, but Healy responded with sweeps to target the vacant areas between square leg and mid wicket or behind the fine leg.
Rana increased her pace, but Healy slog-swept the off-spinner for a six, keeping the required rate manageable. Healy reached her fifty in just 35 balls, the fastest in this tournament edition.
Amidst Australia’s dominance, left-arm spinner Sri Charani bowled a remarkable spell (10-1-41-3), providing India, lacking a sixth bowling option, some control in the middle overs.
The local bowler took the wickets of Phoebe Litchfield, who partnered with Healy in an aggressive 85-run stand for the opening wicket, and Annabel Sutherland, deceiving her with a quicker, straighter ball.
With veteran Ellyse Perry retiring hurt, Australia faced a tight situation, with the required rate exceeding seven for the first time during the chase.
Healy found a reliable partner in Ashleigh Gardner (45), adding 95 runs for the fourth wicket to bring Australia back into the match.
Healy achieved her sixth WODI century, her first as captain, with a single off Deepti Sharma, acknowledging the moment with a simple bat wave.
Healy was eventually dismissed trying to cut Charani, with substitute Radha Yadav making a fine catch at the circle’s edge.
Healy’s departure caused some tension in the Australian camp as they lost Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, and Sophie Molineux, slipping from 265 for three to 303 for seven. However, Perry (47 not out) returned to secure the win.
Earlier, India overcame their batting struggles with classy fifties from Mandhana and Rawal, posting a 300-plus total.
Asked to bat first, openers Mandhana (80 off 66 balls) and Rawal (75 off 96 balls) performed well on a pitch offering little assistance to Australian bowlers.
India’s batting charge was initiated by a 155-run opening stand between Mandhana and Rawal in just 24.3 overs, making up for their previous failures against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and South Africa.
Mandhana’s elegant aggression became evident after the seventh over, particularly when left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux (3/75) was introduced. Mandhana hit 18 runs off Molineux’s first over, including a six and two fours.
Rawal, supporting Mandhana, occasionally displayed her flair, hitting off-spinner Gardner for consecutive fours.
Their partnership was defined by smooth timing and precise placement rather than brute force.
Mandhana reached her fifty in 46 balls, followed by Rawal in 69 balls.
During her innings, Mandhana, 29, also achieved the milestone of 5000 runs in WODIs, becoming the fastest and youngest player to do so.
Mandhana and Rawal recorded their sixth 100-run stand in 21 innings, nearing India’s record of seven by Purnima Raut and Mithali Raj (34 innings).
However, Mandhana’s dismissal, caught by Litchfield off Molineux while attempting a slog sweep, briefly allowed Australia to make a comeback, dismissing Rawal, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, and Harleen Deol.
India found themselves at 240 for four in the 38th over, risking their momentum.
Richa Ghosh and Jemimah Rodrigues then added 54 runs for the fifth wicket, pushing India close to the 300-run mark.
However, Ghosh was caught in the deep off pacer Sutherland (5/40), who used slower balls to claim quick wickets towards the end.
(With agency inputs)
