Women’s World Cup hero Alyssa Healy hails ‘special game of cricket’ after smashing her way to historic total as Australia defeat England in final
Alyssa Healy hailed a ‘special’ performance from her teammates as Australia reclaimed the World Cup after beating England by 71 runs in the final.
The Aussies set the defending champions world record target of 357 for victory on the back of Healy’s mammoth 170 off 138 balls.
Australia’s wicket-keeper smashed her way to a century off as many balls at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval, striking 26 boundaries on her way to the biggest total in any short-form World Cup final in the men’s and women’s tournament.
Australia’s Alyssa Healy hit a record-breaking century in their World Cup final win vs England
‘That was a special game of cricket,’ Healy told AAP.
‘And that was pretty special from our group.’
Australia were beaten in the semifinal by eventual runners-up India five years ago and Healy admitted lifting the World Cup was particularly sweet after the pain of 2017.
Healy’s total was the highest of any player in a World Cup final – men’s or women’s
‘We’ve been working towards it for a long period of time,’ she added.
‘Everyone’s been talking about it for a long period of time so to finally get over the line was pretty cool.’
Healy combined with Rachael Haynes, who made 68, for an opening stand of 160 – the biggest partnership of a Women’s World Cup final. The former then added 156 runs together with Beth Mooney, who was elevated to first drop for the final.
Australia’s Alyssa Healy hit a record-breaking century in their World Cup final win vs England
England set about their chase with admirable determination, keeping the run rate above six per over.
Nat Sciver pulled the defending champions within touching distance of a world-record chase, belting 148 not out from 121 deliveries.
Sciver, who entered the contest at 2-38, was denied a fairytale finish as she ran out of partners with 38 balls left, England all out for 285.
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