Alyssa Healy Smashes Ton As Australia Rout England To Win Women’s World Cup

CHRISTCHURCH: Riding on Alyssa Healy’s dazzling hundred, Australia routed England by 71 runs to win their seventh one-day World Cup title. England’s decision to field first after winning the toss backfired horribly as Australia scored 356-5 in overs.

Healy was the main architect of Australia’s mammoth total as she smashed 170 runs off just 138 balls, which included 26 boundaries. This is the highest individual score of the tournament and also the highest score by anyone in a World Cup final. She leapfrogged another Australian legend Adam Gilchrist who had hammered 149 against Sri Lanka in 2007.

Overall, Healy scored 509 runs in the tournament which is also a record in the annals of Women’s World Cup. Healy and her opening partner Rachael Haynes added 160 runs for the first wicket which is a record partnership for any wicket in the final of Women’s World Cup. Both of them were watchful for the first few overs as they added 68 runs in 15 overs but after being set they upped the ante.

Healy had also scored a match-winning 129 in the semi-final against West Indies. Now she is the female cricketer to score two tons in the knockouts of the World Cup.

After Haynes departed for 68, Beth Mooney joined forces with Healy and put together a partnership of 156 for the second wicket.

Though the wicket was good for batting, apart from Nat Sciver, no one showed application and resistance against Australia bowlers. Sciver crafted a masterful innings of 148 off just 121 balls and remained unbeaten till the end. She smote 15 fours and also clouted the only six of the match.

Eventually England were bowled out for 285 in 43.4 overs and lost the match by 71 runs. Healy was adjudged both the player of the match as well as the player of the series.