On a Sunday that had all of it — nerves, nostalgia, near-misses and no scarcity of noise — it was Alyssa Healy who stood tallest, crafting a sensational 142 to steer Australia to the highest-ever profitable chase in girls’s ODI historical past. Below the lights of a jam-packed ACA-VDCA Stadium, with 331 runs to chase and the load of World Cup expectation, Healy delivered a knock that was equal elements thunderstorm and theatre.
India had put up a large 330 — their highest complete ever in a Ladies’s World Cup match. However by the top of the night time, that quantity felt just a bit quick. As a result of when Healy begins seeing it like a seaside ball, there’s little anybody can do. In the long run, the Aussies made a mockery of the chase, profitable the match by three wickets with six balls to spare.
CHASING HISTORY? JUST ANOTHER SUNDAY FOR HEALY
All of it started with a misleading calm. Healy and Phoebe Litchfield, not ones to hurry, moved alongside at six an over — neat, composed, unhurried. Then, like flipping a change, Healy despatched out the primary warning indicators. Within the seventh over, she took Kranti Gaud to the cleaners — three boundaries and a six, all scientific. The run price climbed; the strain shifted.
India had their second. A golden one—fairly actually. Litchfield overbalanced whereas stretching ahead to drive a large supply from Amanjot Kaur. Richa Ghosh had the stumps at her mercy — a regulation take and break — however let it bobble out of her gloves. A collective gasp echoed across the floor. Australia had been 82 for no loss on the finish of 10 overs, nonetheless unscathed, and now emboldened.
The breakthrough finally got here from Andhra’s personal Shree Charani. She despatched Litchfield again for a trendy 40, giving the house crowd a much-needed elevate. Healy, nevertheless, regarded unfazed. With dew starting to choose the outfield, she stored going — chopping, pulling, charging — citing her half-century off simply 35 deliveries.
Ellyse Perry, ever the calm within the center, was trying settled till her hamstring had different plans. After an aggressive drive, she winced and slowed down. The physio got here out, and moments later, she walked off — visibly disillusioned, shaking her head.
India vs Australia, Ladies’s World Cup: rating card , Highlights
Beth Mooney joined Healy however did not final lengthy. Coming down the monitor to Deepti Sharma, she mistimed a drive and supplied Jemimah Rodrigues a pointy, low catch at additional cowl. Identical to that, India had a pulse once more. And when Charani returned to fort Annabel Sutherland within the very subsequent over, the noise within the stadium doubled — 174 for 3 within the twenty eighth over, and the match again within the steadiness.
However by way of all of it, Healy held agency. She introduced up her century — her second towards India, third in World Cups — in simply 84 balls. The celebration was understated, however the applause was something however. Even some Indian followers stood to clap. As a result of this wasn’t only a knock — it was a masterclass. The sort that stops time.
With Tahlia McGrath offering regular assist, Healy stored the scoreboard transferring at a wholesome clip. The Aussies raced previous 230 in 35 overs. The boundaries flowed, the gaps widened, and the goal stored shrinking.
Sneh Rana lastly ended the carnage with a shocking catch at deep midwicket, dismissing Healy for a powerful 142. It was Shree Charani’s third wicket, and the gang roared in appreciation — not only for the breakthrough, however for the innings they’d simply witnessed.
By then, although, Australia wanted simply 66 runs off 67 balls, with six wickets in hand. Healy had achieved the heavy lifting — the chase was now not a problem; it was a formality. Healy’s 142 now ranks because the third-highest particular person rating by a batter whereas chasing in World Cups, behind Meg Lanning’s unbeaten 152 towards Sri Lanka in Bristol in 2017 and Nat Sciver-Brunt’s unbeaten 148 towards Australia in Christchurch within the 2022 version.
Deepti Sharma then eliminated Tahlia McGrath for 12, bringing Sophie Molineux to the crease alongside Ashleigh Gardner, with the rating studying 280 for five after 41 overs. Molineux contributed a few boundaries throughout a brief 20-run partnership for the fifth wicket earlier than Amanjot Kaur cleaned up a set Gardner for 45, reigniting India’s hopes by additionally dismissing Molineux in her subsequent over.
Ellyse Perry, who had retired damage earlier within the innings, returned to the crease and was joined by Kim Garth, with Australia needing 26 runs off 26 balls.
BEFORE THE STORM: MANDHANA MAGIC LIGHTS UP VIZAG
Earlier within the day, it was Smriti Mandhana who gave the sold-out crowd one thing to cheer for. Alongside the ever-improving Pratika Rawal, she stitched collectively a record-breaking opening partnership that promised fireworks — and for 30 overs, delivered them.
Healy gained the toss and selected to area — a daring name given the dry floor and sunny skies. India began cautiously — simply 23 on the board after six overs. However issues modified when Mandhana determined it was time. She took a liking to Molineux, smashing two boundaries and a towering six in a single over, setting the tone for what adopted.
Because the Chak De India chants picked up, Mandhana crossed 1,000 ODI runs for the 12 months — a testomony to her consistency. India introduced up their fifty within the ninth over, and by the point they’d reached triple digits, it was already their first-ever 100-run opening stand towards Australia in Ladies’s World Cup historical past.
Mandhana’s half-century — her first of the event — got here up along with her seventh boundary, and was met with deafening applause. Pratika, enjoying second fiddle with grace and maturity, introduced up her maiden World Cup fifty off 69 deliveries.
After which got here a second of historical past. Within the twenty first over, Mandhana grew to become the youngest and quickest lady to achieve 5000 ODI runsovertaking Stafanie Taylor’s report in simply her 112th innings. She did it in model too — hoisting Kim Garth over long-off for a six. The stadium rose along with her.
She finally fell for 80 off 66 — a miscued slog sweep off Molineux discovering Litchfield at deep midwicket. It wasn’t the best way she’d have needed to exit, however the knock had achieved its injury. Pratika adopted shortly after for a composed 75.
India had been 192 for 1 after 30 overs. A complete near 375 regarded very a lot on the playing cards.
BUT THEN, THE WOBBLE
Harmanpreet Kaur’s lean run continued — out cheaply once more, picked off by Megan Schutt with a slower ball. Harleen Deol added a brisk 38 however perished making an attempt to push the tempo. The acceleration that after appeared inevitable began to really feel determined.
Richa Ghosh and Jemimah Rodrigues added some aptitude and struggle — their 54-run partnership off 34 balls reignited the innings briefly. However Australia, ever the masters of the squeeze, struck once more. Annabel Sutherland got here again with hearth, eradicating each Ghosh and Rodrigues within the last stretch and wrapping up with a well-deserved five-for.
India had gone from 192 for 1 to 330 all out. Nonetheless a report complete — however one that did not really feel fairly as imposing as soon as Healy stepped out with intent in her eyes and bat in hand.
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