Skipper Alyssa Healy smashed a scintillating 142 and Annabel Sutherland picked up five wickets as Australia edged India by three wickets in a high-scoring Women’s World Cup clash in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.
Healy’s 107-ball knock, laced with 21 fours and three sixes, was the highest individual score against India in women’s ODIs and powered Australia to 331 for seven — the biggest successful chase in the tournament’s history — with six balls to spare.
Earlier, openers Smriti Mandhana (80) and Pratika Rawal (75) set the tone for India with a 155-run stand, their team’s best opening partnership against Australia. India appeared set for a total of 400 before collapsing in the final overs to be bowled out for 330 in 48.5 overs.
Sutherland (5-40) spearheaded Australia’s fightback, while Sophie Molineux chipped in with three wickets to trigger India’s late meltdown, as the hosts lost six wickets for 36 runs.
Chasing 331, Australia’s openers raced to 82 without loss in 10 overs — the highest powerplay score in women’s ODIs. Healy stitched crucial partnerships with Phoebe Litchfield (40) and Ashleigh Gardner (45) before falling to N. Shree Charani (3-41) with the visitors still needing 66 runs.
India clawed back through Charani, Amanjot Kaur (2-68) and Deepti Sharma (2-52), reducing Australia to 303-7. But Ellyse Perry, who returned to bat after suffering cramps, steadied the chase with an unbeaten 47 off 52 balls, sealing victory with a six in the penultimate over.
The result handed India their second straight defeat of the tournament after the loss to South Africa on October 9, pushing them to third in the standings. Australia stayed top with seven points from four matches, ahead of England on six.
Brief scores:
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 overs (Alyssa Healy 142, Ellyse Perry 47*, Ashleigh Gardner 45; N. Shree Charani 3-41, Amanjot Kaur 2-68, Deepti Sharma 2-52)