Australia, on Sunday (October 12), completed a historic run chase against India to extend their unbeaten run in the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. The seven-time World Cup winners won the match by three wickets to regain the top spot in the points table.
Building on their captain Alyssa Healy’s magnificent knock of 142 runs, Australia chased down 331 runs at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. It is now the most successful chase in women’s ODIs, eclipsing the 302 chased by Sri Lanka against South Africa last year.
Alyssa Healy crushes the hosts
It is also the first time that a total of more than 300 women have been chased at a Women’s World Cup. Incidentally, the previous most successful World Cup run also involved Australia and India, when the former chased down 278 runs in the 2022 edition.
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With India posting 330, Australia had their backs against the wall. However, captain Healy led the team from the front by crushing a ton of thunder. His 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 beyond the 150-run mark before the latter was forced to retire injured 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 map by adding 95 runs for the fourth wicket.
Charani ended the stand by dismissing Healy. Australia had a few worrying moments after losing the wickets of Tahlia McGrath and Gardner, but Perry returned to the crease and managed to take her team home.
Australia denied India a good ending:
Earlier in the match, Australia made a strong comeback with the ball to deny India a strong finish. India looked 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, the Indian middle-order batters failed to finish the innings strongly.
Players like Harleen Deol (38), Harmanpreet Kaur (22), Jemimah Rodrigues (33) and Richa Ghosh (32) got the start, but none of them could hold on till the end to help the team end things on a high note.
At one point, India were 294/4 in the 43rd over with Richa and Rodrigues well placed in the middle. The Women in Blue looked destined to post a total of over 350 before Richa’s dismissal triggered a collapse.
India then lost their last six wickets for just 36 runs and couldn’t even bat out all the overs. For Australia, Annabel Sutherland impressed with the ball, taking 5 for 40.
Brief scores of India vs Australia:
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
