Christchurch, New Zealand – Australia reclaimed their record for the highest triumphant chase in women’s One Day International (ODI) cricket on Sunday, defeating India by three wickets in a thrilling contest adn 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 notable 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 as I feel like I’ve had no rhythm whatsoever,” Healy saeid.”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 relatively infrequent. This latest result, however, was built on the foundation of conceding a ample 330 runs, providing Healy the platform to deliver a pivotal performance.
Healy debuted for Australia in 2010,following her nation’s unsuccessful campaigns in both 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’s journey hasn’t been without setbacks. A semi-final defeat to India in 2017 proved a turning point. “That loss ‘drove us to rethink our standards’,” Healy revealed this week.
This renewed focus culminated in a dominant performance at the 2022 50-over World cup in New Zealand,were Healy scored a remarkable 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament,leading her country to victory.
while debate may continue regarding whether this latest century surpasses her 2022 final performance – some prioritizing the pressure of a final, others the challenge of a record chase against a vocal crowd of 20,000 – its unexpected nature is undeniable. Healy’s recent form leading up to the match included six consecutive innings in india where she failed to reach 30 runs.
With the 2025 Women’s cricket World Cup set to be hosted in Australia,Healy and her team will be aiming to add another trophy to their extraordinary collection and secure a historic victory on home turf.
