CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, CMC – Alyssa Healy struck a colossal 170 and created history along the way to Australia Women winning their seventh ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title, with a 71-run victory over England yesterday.
The opener’s 170 in 138 balls – the highest individual score of the tournament and the highest score by anyone, male or female, in a World Cup final – pushed Australia, undefeated in the tournament, to 356-5 at Hagley Oval.
RECORD TRIUMPH! Australia’s Alyssa Healy broke several records as Aus-tralia defeated defending champions England to win their seventh World Cup limited overs competition. (Photo courtesy ICC Women’s World Cup website)
The mammoth target of 357, the highest score in a World Cup final, proved too much for their opponents, despite an impressive effort by Nat Sciver who steered England’s reply with an unbeaten 148, her highest score in international cricket.
Having been sent in to bat, Australia were measured in the powerplay, taking 37 off the seam attack of Katherine Brunt, Anya Shrubsole and Sciver.
But the introduction of spinner Charlie Dean proved Healy and Rachael Haynes’ cue to start finding the boundary regularly.
England’s fielding errors re-emerged as Haynes was dropped on 47 before Healy was put down on 41 in the same Kate Cross over.
As against the West Indies in the semi-final, Haynes’ half-century came first – off 69 balls – before Healy’s was brought up off 62 as they eased their way to the highest opening partnership in a World Cup final.
Even as Dean continued to be targeted, spin made the breakthrough as Sophie Ecclestone took her 21st and final wicket of the tournament to dismiss Haynes for 68.
Healy built a new partnership with Beth Mooney, who was promoted up the order from five, and became only the second woman to score a hundred in a World Cup final, going at a run a ball as she became the only player to score two centuries in the knockout stage of a World Cup.
The 32-year-old right-handed batsman then surpassed the highest score in a Women’s World Cup final as she moved to 111 with a four off Cross. More records came when Australia reached 260 for one to rack up the highest score in a World Cup final, with eight overs still to go.
It was Amy Jones who finally took Healy’s scalp, with Australia on 316 for two, after an innings that saw 100 runs coming in boundaries and contributed to her eventually being named Player of the Tournament.
Australia would get 40 more runs and lose three more wickets in the rest of the innings.
In reply, England’s opening partnership failed to fire once again as Danni Wyatt was bowled by Megan Schutt for just four.
Sciver was again called upon to deliver against Australia, having made 109 not out in the group game. However, they fell 71 runs short with Sciver on 148 not out.
