Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025: Australia captain Alyssa Healy’s brilliant 142 helps holders beat India in record chase

Alyssa Healy’s brilliant 142 helped Australia complete a record women’s one-day international chase as they beat India by three wickets in the World Cup.

On a featherbed pitch in Visakhapatnam, India posted a commanding 330 from 48.5 overs – the highest total Australia had ever conceded in an ODI.

The platform for India had been laid by a 155-run opening stand between Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal, who accelerated quickly once they got themselves in.

Mandhana was the chief aggressor, top scoring with 80 off 66 balls, while a string of cameos from India’s middle order continued the assault.

All-rounder Annabel Sutherland swung some of the momentum back Australia’s way in the second half of India’s innings as she finished with impressive figures of 5-40.

Lesser teams might have been daunted by the chase, but Australia captain Healy produced a stoic knock to put her side on course for victory.

Healy’s innings off 107 balls featured 21 fours and three sixes and was chanceless until she sliced Shree Charani, who claimed 3-41, to Sneh Rana, who grasped a diving catch with her fingernails at point.

With 66 required off 67 deliveries, Ash Gardner, who made 45, steered Australia close before Kim Garth and Ellyse Perry got the World Cup holders within striking distance.

Perry had retired earlier in her innings with cramp but came back to finish the job and whacked a six off Rana to get Australia over the line with six balls to spare.

Australia’s record-breaking ODI chase eclipsed the 302 made by Sri Lanka to beat South Africa at Potchefstroom in April 2024.

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