Alyssa Healy (Photo By Bahnfrend)
Alyssa Healy’s superb century powered Australia to the highest successful chase in women’s ODI history as they beat India by three wickets at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2025.
The 35-year-old smashed 142 off 107 balls, which featured 21 fours and three sixes, to break the back of the huge target of 331 after India had earlier been bowled out for 330.
Annabel Sutherland’s five for 40 helped the seven-time champions fight back after the hosts had found themselves 155 without loss thanks to Pratika Rawal (75) and Smriti Mandhana’s (80) fireworks.
The win sees Australia return to the top of the group stage table with their third win from four games whilst India sit third.
India’s openers Rawal and Mandhana started strongly as the latter set the tone in the opening over with a gorgeous cover drive for four.
Back-to-back overs featuring 10 or more runs brought up the fifty-run partnership as both batters plundered huge straight sixes.
Mandhana looked imperious at the crease, especially through the offside, as she dismissed Ash Gardner twice to the fence in the 16th over with a pair of dominant cut shots.
The 29-year-old duly brought up her 33rd ODI half-century with a single to deep square leg before Rawal notched up their hundred partnership three balls later.
The day was an important one for Indian cricket off the field too as a stand at the ACA-VCA Stadium was named after former captain and India’s leading run scorer in international cricket Mithali Raj and a gate was named after former India player Raavi Kalpana.
Having survived a nervy moment when a leading edge nearly found it’s way into Alana King’s grasp sprinting in from short midwicket, Rawal went to a 69-ball fifty with a superb lofted straight drive off Kim Garth’s bowling.
Mandhana reached the 5000 ODI career run landmark with an exquisite six over extra cover but eventually fell for 80 as Sophie Molineux had her caught by Phoebe Litchfield to halt the opening stand on 155.
Rawal was next to go for 75 when she could only find Ellyse Perry at fine leg to hand Sutherland her first wicket and leave India 192 for two with 20 overs left.
From then on, Australia fought back as Megan Schutt and Molineux picked up the wickets of Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur for 22 and Harleen Deol for 38 respectively in consecutive overs.
A 30-ball fifty partnership followed between Richa Ghosh and Jemimah Rodrigues but once they both fell to Sutherland, India’s batting line up fell away.
Deepti Sharma and Amanjot Kaur fell in consecutive overs to leave India 327 for eight with 15 balls remaining.
Sutherland completed her five-wicket haul in style as she removed both Kranti Gaud and Sree Charani within three balls of each other to end India’s innings.
Australia’s reply got off to a good start through captain Healy and opening partner Litchfield, as the pair put on 85 runs for the opening stand before the latter was caught at backward point for 40 off the bowling of Charani (3/41).
Healy looked in fine fettle as she notched up the quickest half-century of the tournament off just 35 balls, helping Australia to 154 for one alongside Perry, who then retired hurt for 32 at the end of the 24th over.
The quickfire wickets of Beth Mooney and Sutherland, the former given her marching orders courtesy of a brilliant diving catch from Rodrigues, swung the game back in favour of India with Australia on 170 for three.
Healy went to her first century as skipper and sixth overall in the 31st over and plundered a further 42 runs from her next 23 deliveries until Sneh Rana’s diving catch ended her excellent knock.
Tahlia McGrath’s departure, given out leg before to Sharma on review, left Australia 279 for five, still 52 runs from victory, with just under 10 overs remaining.
Amanjot Kaur’s double strike to see the back of both Gardner, who played well under pressure to make 45, and Molineux set up a grandstand finish with Australia still 28 runs short.
But the returning Perry held her nerve alongside Garth as the former sealed the win with a huge six down the ground.
Healy was delighted at being able to lead from the front as the Australian skipper’s wonderful century helped her team to a tense three-wicket win over India at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.
The 35-year-old blasted a tournament high 142 from 107 deliveries, featuring 21 fours and three sixes, which acted as the catalyst to Australia reaching their target of 331 – the highest successful chase in women’s ODI history.
“Obviously I’m proud personally to be able to do that,” she said. “I was trying to lock in for a big day. I know there was a bit of pressure on our top order, but to be out there and contribute heavily was great.
“I would have loved to be out there a little bit longer and see it home, but the girls got the job done, which is good.”
Annabel Sutherland produced a masterful display with the ball and was crucial in pegging India back after openers Pratika Rawal (75) and Smriti Mandhana’s (80) put on 155 for the opening wicket.
The 24-year-old finished with figures of five for 40, which sees her move to the top of the leading wicket taker standings with 10, and Healy highlighted how important the spinner’s contribution was in the win.
“She’s the pick of our bowlers from a length perspective,” said Healy. “She identified the length she needed to bowl and executed beautifully.
“I think we tossed up a little bit of junk today, probably no denying that, but the way we hung in there and ultimately restricted them to 330 [was crucial], which sounds a little bit stupid, but I think we pegged them back in the last ten.
“The fact that we can hang in there and do that will give us great confidence.”
The quickfire wickets of Beth Mooney and Sutherland left Australia 170 for three during their reply to leave the contest firmly in the balance.
That brought Ash Gardner to the crease who showed all of her resolve to craft a crucial 45 as Sree Charani (3/41) and Deepti Sharma (2/52) looked to take the game away from Australia.
Ellyse Perry also returned to the field after earlier retiring hurt to seal the triumph, after putting on 28 with Kim Garth, with a straight six down the ground to clinch victory.
And Healy was impressed at the maturity shown by those coming in down the order when the pressure was on.
She added: “To hang in there, partnerships are key. It’s something we’ve been lacking in the first couple of games, so the fact that each person that came in was able to build a partnership and that we could have a significant one [was great].
“To have Ellyse Perry walking back out there on [32] not out is a little bit cheeky as well. Ash played beautifully today and ultimately got most of the job done, which was awesome.”
India fell from 306 for five in the 45th over to being bowled out 24 runs later inside 49 overs and captain Harmanpreet Kaur felt her side’s late-order collapse was the difference between the two teams at the ACA-VCA Stadium.
She said: “The way we started, we thought we could [get] 30 to 40 more runs on the board. I think we missed [out] in the last six to seven overs; we kept losing wickets.
“I think that really cost us. We knew [today’s wicket] was a good batting wicket, but I think those last six overs where we were not able to capitalise while batting, that really cost us.”
RESULT
India 330 all out in 48.5 overs (Smriti Mandhana 80, Pratika Rawal 75; Annabel Sutherland 5/40, Sophie Molineux 3/75)
Australia 331/7 in 49.0 overs (Alyssa Healy 142, Ellyse Perry 47*; Sree Charani 3/41, Deepti Sharma 2/52)
Result: Australia won by three wickets
