Healy Stars as Australia Dominates India in Record-Breaking ODI Victory
Australian captain Alyssa Healy has delivered a truly unforgettable performance to cap off her one-day international career, decimating the Indian bowling attack in a commanding victory in Hobart. Fellow wicketkeeper Beth Mooney also contributed an unbeaten century on Sunday as Australia amassed a colossal 7-409, their highest-ever domestic score and a mere three runs shy of the national record.
India faced a monumental task in their run chase, needing to surpass their own record to secure a win. While they began brightly, crucial early wickets saw them falter, and they were never truly in contention. The tourists were eventually bowled out for 224 in 45.1 overs, handing Australia a comprehensive 185-run victory and an unassailable lead in the multi-format series. This triumph in the ODIs, following their earlier T20 series loss, sets the stage for a thrilling series-deciding Test in Perth next week.
“To finish the ODI leg the way we did, it makes me really proud,” Healy commented after the match.
Healy’s breathtaking 158 stands as the highest women’s ODI score against India and the highest women’s ODI innings ever played on Australian soil. “What a ridiculous sport that we play, that it can kick you down so many times and then give you opportunities like it has today,” she reflected. “I’ve hated every milestone match, so today was just an opportunity to go out and enjoy it. It was one of the more enjoyable experiences I’ve had, so thanks to the cricket gods for that, it was a nice way to sign off in the yellow.”
Mooney, meanwhile, reached her own century with just three balls remaining in the innings, finishing on a superb 106 not out. In a light-hearted moment, Healy even took to the bowling crease for two overs once the result was beyond doubt, though her gentle finger-spin did not trouble the Indian batters, and she remains without an international wicket to her name. “It didn’t take much to get talked into (bowling) – I heard my name mentioned once and I said ‘righto’,” Healy quipped.
The Indian team showed their respect for Healy’s illustrious ODI career by forming a guard of honour as she walked off, marking the end of her final 50-over match before she retires from all forms of cricket after the upcoming Perth Test.
A Masterclass in Batting and Partnerships
Despite experiencing cramping in the 80s, the 35-year-old veteran appeared to draw further inspiration, unleashing a whirlwind 98-ball innings adorned with an impressive 27 fours and two sixes. This century marked Healy’s eighth in ODIs, equalling the tally of Karen Rolton and placing her just behind Meg Lanning’s record of 15 for Australia. Her remarkable innings came to an end when she attempted a cheeky shot off a seemingly innocuous full toss from Sneh Rana, falling just 12 runs short of her personal best ODI score.
Earlier, Georgia Voll continued her impressive form, contributing a valuable 62. She formed a solid 104-run partnership with Healy for the second wicket. Mooney then joined her captain to further pile on the runs, forging a significant 145-run stand. The innings was expertly finished by No. 9 Nicola Carey, who smashed an unbeaten 34 from just 15 deliveries. Her quickfire knock, coming after Australia lost three wickets in quick succession, was crucial in helping Mooney cross the 400-run mark. Mooney herself reached her century in just 84 balls, a testament to her efficient scoring, featuring 10 fours and a six. For India, Sneh Rana and Sree Charani managed to claim two wickets each.
India’s Chase Falters Against Clinical Bowling
India’s formidable batting lineup, which had posted a record 5-341 to defeat Australia in the World Cup semi-final last October, found themselves under immense pressure from the outset. In-form opener Smriti Mandhana’s departure for a golden duck on the fourth ball of the innings immediately put India on the back foot.
Leg-spinner Alana King was the star of the Australian bowling attack, claiming an impressive 4-33 from her 10 overs, including the pivotal wicket of Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur. King trapped Kaur lbw with a well-executed straight delivery for 25, leaving India precariously placed at 5-115 and with no realistic chance of staging a comeback. Jemima Rodrigues offered some resistance at number three, scoring 42 before top-edging an Ashleigh Gardner delivery to debutant Lucy Hamilton at fine leg.
Hamilton, making her debut, opened the bowling with her left-arm pace. While she did strike Deepti Sharma on the helmet with a bouncer, Sharma was able to continue batting and went on to score 29. Sneh Rana was the top scorer for India with 44.
Future Tours and Series Outlook
In related news, Cricket Australia announced earlier on Sunday that the upcoming women’s tour of the West Indies this month will not include a Test match. Instead, the tour will consist of three T20 Internationals and three One Day Internationals.
