Visakhapatnam, Oct 12 (IANS) Captain Alyssa Healy struck a magnificent century, blasting 142 off 107 balls, the highest score ever against India, while Annabel Sutherland grabbed 5-40 as Australia scampered to a three-wicket victory in a crucial match in the Women’s World Cup in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.

Healy, who slammed a record-breaking 21 fours and three sixes, scored her third World Cup hundred and first ODI hundred since January 2025 (sixth overall) as Australia reached 331/7 with six balls to spare.

They outperformed Indian openers Smriti Mandhana (80 off 667 balls) and Pratika Rawal (75 off 96), who shared an opening partnership of 155 runs. But India suffered a collapse in the last five overs and could manage only 330 all out, when they looked good for 400 at one stage.

It was a record-breaking effort from both teams as Mandhana and Rawal (75) put up the biggest opening partnership against Australia; Mandhana became the fastest to reach 5000 runs (112 matches) in Women’s ODIs. India posted the highest total against Australia in ODIs, surpassing 298 by England. The Aussies then hammered 82 for no loss in 10 overs for the highest score in the Power-play in Women’s ODIs and scripted the biggest successful chase.

This was India’s second successive defeat in the World Cup after the loss to South Africa on October 9 as they slipped to third in the standings, ahead of the Proteas on NRR.

Australia continued at the top of the table with seven points from four matches, with England in second spot with six points from three matches.

The Indians put up a late fight, with N. Shree Charani (3-41), Amanjot Kaur (2-68), and Deepti Sharma (2-52) claiming crucial wickets in the death overs to make it a close affair.

Shree Charani removed Australia captain Healy, caught by a brilliant effort by Sneh Rana just centimetres above the ground, for a brilliant 107-ball 142, sharing crucial partnerships with Phoebe Litchfield (40 off 39, 6×4, 1×6) and an 89-run stand for the second wicket before Ellyse Perry was retired hurt, to put Australia on course to victory. Healy hammered the two openers and scored at will in the middle-overs as the Indian bowlers failed to cut down on pace and allowed her to reverse sweep and use the short-arm jab effectively.

Chasing a massive target of 331, the Australian skipper had stitched another half-century partnership with Ashleigh Gardner (45, 46 balls, 3×4, 1×6) as the defending champions crossed the 250-run mark. But with Australia on 265/3, Charani weaved her magic and got Healy out to open the gate for India.

Amanjot Kaur claimed two wickets in successive balls spread over two overs, sending back Sophie Molineux (13) and Ashleigh Gardner (45) after Deepti Sharma had trapped Tahlia McGrath (12) as Australia slumped to 303/7 in the 45th over.

But Ellyse Perry, who returned to the crease after recuperating from cramps, along with Kim Garth (14 not out), guided Australia to a memorable win with six balls to spare.

Perry remained unbeaten on 47 off 52 balls (5×4, 1×6) as she sealed victory with a six off the last ball of the 49th over.

Earlier, India failed to capitalise on a solid platform provided by openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal.

With Mandhana finding form right on time after scoring 54 runs in the first three matches, and Pratika scoring her maiden half-century in the World Cup, India raced to 192/1 in 30 overs. However, the hosts succumbed to the lure of big hits and some superb bowling by the Australians, especially Annabel Sutherland, who claimed 5-40, and lost nine wickets for 138 runs and were bundled out for 330 runs in 48.5 overs.

India lost their last six wickets for 36 runs and failed to play their full quota of 50 overs. And that came to haunt them as Australia secured a victory in a crucial match at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium.

Harleen Deol (38 off 42), Jemimah Rodrigues (33), and Richa Ghosh (32) made vital contributions, but none of them could stay at the wicket and score a 50 or 60 to help India make the most of the death overs.

That proved fatal as the hosts fell short by around 50 runs, making things easier for the Aussies to chase.

Brief scores: India 330 all out in 48.5 overs (Smriti Mandhana 80, Pratika Rawal 75; Annabel Sutherland 5-40, Sophie Molineux 3-75) lost to Australia 331/7 in 49 overs (Alyssa Healy 142, Ellyse Perry 47 not out, Ashleigh Gardner 45; N Shree Gharani 3-41, Amanjot Kaur 2-68, Deepti Sharma 2-52) by three wickets.

–IANS

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