Cricket: Australia Down India as Alyssa Healy Leads Record-Breaking Women’s World Cup Chase
by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Geoffrey Ejiga
Alyssa Healy's Blitz Cracks the 'Impossible' 331
If you're still processing what happened in Visakhapatnam, you're not alone. What we witnessed this past weekend wasn't just another World Cup fixture; it was an absolute masterclass in chasing down a total that, frankly, belonged in the 'impossible' basket. Our experts did see a win for Australia in the SportyTrader cricket predictions, but what happened on Sunday was beyond our wildest imagination.
Australia’s captain, Alyssa Healy, led the charge against hosts India, and she would soon strap the entire record book to her shoulders and sprint across the finish line with it. Her heroics led to a historic three-wicket victory, completing the highest successful run chase in Women’s ODI history by hauling in a massive 331.
India, riding on a phenomenal opening stand and brilliant half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana (80) and Pratika Rawal (75), posted a monumental 330. At the halfway mark, the home crowd was buzzing, and you could almost hear the collective sigh of relief as India's batters set their team up for what seemed an unassailable total.
Even Healy admitted afterwards that she was thinking, "Oh God, what have I done?" after deciding to bowl first. With the pressure dialled up to eleven, Healy unleashed pure, unadulterated aggression combined with surgical precision.
Batting with the kind of ice-in-her-veins composure only true champions possess, she took the attack to the Indian bowlers from the get-go. She reached her century off just 84 balls, a stunning display of strokeplay that featured 21 fours and three sixes. Her individual score of 142 off just 107 balls is now etched into Women's World Cup history.
What’s Next for Dominant Australia? Semis Looming
The women formerly known as the Southern Stars currently sit atop the points table in the round-robin stage, which means they are firmly on track to finish in the top four and secure a semi-final berth. With only three group matches remaining, Australia is in an enviable position.
Their immediate focus will be on their upcoming fixture against Bangladesh (October 16th). And that matchup offers an opportunity to grab two more points and, just as crucially, boost their already healthy Net Run Rate (NRR) with a big victory, just as the best betting odds suggest. Securing that win is the final checkpoint before the really big games start.
The major headline, however, is the clash against England (October 22nd). This is the match that will likely decide who takes the coveted top seed into the semi-finals. Finishing first is huge because it means you get to face the fourth-placed team in the semi-final, theoretically offering the easiest path to the final. If Australia can maintain the form shown by Healy and the returning anchor Ellyse Perry, we're looking at a near-certain final-four appearance.
