Australia, on Sunday (October 12), pulled off a historic chase against India to extend their unbeaten run in the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. The 7-time World Cup winners won the match by three wickets to reclaim the top spot in the points table.
Riding on their captain Alyssa Healy’s magnificent knock of 142 runs, Australia chased down 331 runs at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam. It is now the highest successful chase in women’s ODIs, eclipsing the 302 chased by Sri Lanka against South Africa last year.
Alyssa Healy smashes the hosts
This is also the first time that a 300-plus total was chased down in a women’s World Cup. Incidentally, the previous highest successful chase in the World Cup also involved Australia and India when the former chased down 278 runs in the 2022 edition.
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With India posting 330 runs, Australia had its back against the wall. However, Captain Healy led the team from the very front by smashing a whirlwind ton. Her 142-run knock came off just 107 balls and was studded with 21 fours and three sixes.
Healy and Phoebe Litchfield added 85 runs for the first wicket before the latter was dismissed by Shree Charani for 40. Healy and Ellyse Perry then took the score past the 150-run mark before the latter was forced to retire hurt for 32.
After Perry left the field, India dismissed Beth Mooney and Annabel Sutherland in quick succession to reduce Australia to 170/3 from 168/1. However, Healy and Ashleigh Gardner put Australia back on the front foot by adding 95 runs for the fourth wicket.
Charani ended the stand by dismissing Healy. Australia had some moments of concern after they lost the wickets of Tahlia McGrath and Gardner, but Perry returned to the crease and managed to take her team home.
Australia denied India a strong finish:
Earlier in the match, Australia made a strong comeback with the ball to deny India a strong finish. India were looking destined to post a mammoth total after openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal added 155 runs for the opening wicket.
Mandhana scored 80 runs off 66 balls while Rawal scored 75 off 96 balls. However, India’s middle-order batters failed to finish the innings strongly.
The likes of Harleen Deol (38), Harmanpreet Kaur (22), Jemimah Rodrigues (33), and Richa Ghosh (32) got the starts, but none of them could last till the end to help the team finish things off on a strong note.
At one stage, India were on 294/4 in the 43rd over with a well-set Richa and Rodrigues in the middle. The Women in Blue were looking destined to post a 350-plus total before Richa’s dismissal triggered a collapse.
India went on to lose their last six wickets for just 36 runs and could not even bat all the overs. For Australia, Annabel Sutherland impressed with the ball, taking 5 for 40.
India vs Australia brief scores:
India 330 (48.5 overs): Smriti Mandhana 80 (66), Pratika Rawal 75 (96); Annabel Sutherland 5-40
Australia 331-7 (49 overs): Alyssa Healy 142 (106), Ellyse Perry 47* (52); Shree Charani 3-41
Australia won by three wickets
