In the final to match Alyssa Healy’s brilliant ODI career, Australia recorded the second highest total against India In the third and final match of the series against India at Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Sunday, March 1.
Alyssa Healy’s masterclass lights up Hobart
Appearing in front of the Indian team’s guard of honour, Healy hit a century in his last ODI appearance.
After Phoebe Litchfield’s departure for 14, Kashvee Gautam was caught by Shree Charani outside off, Healy found an able partner in Georgia Voll. The pair added 104 runs and 91 deliveries for the second wicket, with Healy on pace and Voll returning 62 off 52 balls before falling to Sneh Rana.
Record partnership between Healy and Beth Mooney
The real carnage began when Beth Mooney joined her longtime opening partner. With Australia at 136 for 2 in the 22nd over, the two most experienced batsmen in the line-up launched an onslaught that decimated India’s bowling attack.
Healy and Mooney plundered a total of 92 deliveries for 145 runs, with Healy doing the bulk of the scoring – contributing 100 runs during the partnership, while Mooney turned the innings efficiently with 44 off 49 balls in that phase. The Australian skipper brought up his century with 79 balls and continued his onslaught, eventually falling to 158 from 98 in the 37th over, with Sneh left at two wits when he attempted a reverse sweep.
His innings included 27 fours and two sixes, a masterclass in controlled aggression that demonstrated why he will be remembered as one of the game’s all-time greats.
After Healy went for 3 at 281 for 37, Annabel Sutherland provided quick support to Mooney and added 47 runs off 33 deliveries before falling to Deepti Sharma in the 23rd over. Ashleigh Gardner (4 off 5) and Tahlia McGrath (2 off 4) came cheap for Georgia, but Warhe came cheap12. Nicola Carey’s unbeaten 34 off just 15 deliveries saw Australia flourish.
Carey’s innings was particularly devastating, with 4 fours and a six, he then added an unbeaten 54 off just 25 balls with Muni settling in as the anchor.
Also WATCH: Mitchell Starc cheers as Alyssa Healy gets off with an ODI century against India
Mooney’s century is the perfect tribute to Healy
Beth Mooney’s unbeaten 106 off 101 completed Healy’s fireworks perfectly. The left-hander played the anchor to perfection, swinging the swinging shot impressively through the middle overs before opening up in the final over. He remained unbeaten when the innings closed, facing 101 deliveries and hitting 10 boundaries.
The partnership between Mooney and Healy highlighted the remarkable understanding the pair developed during their opening years together – which will now come to an end in ODIs, but leave behind a legacy of match-winning stands.
Meanwhile, the Indian bowlers endured a tough afternoon on a real Bellerive surface. Youngster Sri Charani was the most expensive, conceding 106 runs in 10 overs while taking two wickets – McGrath and Wareham. Sneh Rana provided the breakthrough wickets of Voll and Healy, completing 2 for 66 from 10 overs.
Renuka Singh (1 for 64) and Kashvee Gautam (1 for 83) also picked up wickets but at a heavy cost, while Deepti Sharma’s 10 overs disappeared for 90 runs. The Indian attack was no match for Australia’s depth and quality on a day when Healy decided to sign off in style.
Australia’s total of 409 for 7 represents the eighth highest total in women’s ODI history. Three fifty-plus scores in the innings – Healy’s 158, Mooney’s 106 not out and Voll’s 62 – showed the extraordinary depth in Australian women’s cricket as they prepare for the one-off Test against India starting March 6 in Perth.
Also WATCH: Alyssa Healy receives a Guard of Honor from the Indian players in the final ODI
This article was originally published here WomenCricket.coma Cricket Times company.
