Christchurch, New Zealand – Australia reclaimed their record for the highest successful chase in women’s One Day International (ODI) cricket on Sunday, defeating India by three wickets in a thrilling contest and setting a new benchmark of 331. The victory, secured after a challenging run of form for captain Alyssa Healy, positions the Australian team as strong contenders heading into the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup, leaving healy with one meaningful milestone remaining: a World Cup triumph on home soil.
Healy’s match-winning innings arrived after a period of struggle, with the captain admitting a lack of rhythm in recent matches.”If you’ve been watching me in the nets, it’s been a frustrating experience because I feel like I’ve had no rhythm whatsoever,” Healy said. “But once you step out on the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you just lock into the contest.”
The chase itself is a testament to Australia’s bowling depth over the past half-century; opportunities for record-breaking batting feats have been limited by consistently strong opposition performances. This latest result, however, was built on the foundation of conceding a substantial 330 runs, providing Healy with the platform to deliver a pivotal performance.
healy debuted for Australia in 2010, following her nation’s unsuccessful campaigns in the 20 and 50-over World Cups the previous year. Since then, she has become a cornerstone of a remarkably successful era, contributing to seven world titles across formats from ten attempts, beginning with a T20 World Cup win just three months after her debut.
The team endured a setback at the 2017 semi-final against India in Derby, a defeat Healy acknowledged as a catalyst for change. “that loss drove us to rethink our standards,” she stated this week.
This introspection led to a dominant performance at the 2022 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, where Healy scored a remarkable 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament, ensuring Australia would not fall short again.
While debate continues over whether this latest century surpasses her 2022 final performance – some favouring the pressure of a final, others the challenge of a record chase against a vocal crowd of 20,000 Indian supporters – its unexpected nature is undeniable. Healy’s recent form, having failed to reach 30 in six innings in India since the start of last month, makes the innings all the more impressive.
The win over India marks a significant step for Australia as they prepare to host the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup, with Healy now focused on securing the one major trophy that has eluded her on home soil.
