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Australia pulled off the greatest run chase in the history of women’s One-Day Internationals, defeating India by three wickets in a high-scoring thriller at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Sunday, October 12.

The match, filled with records and momentum shifts, saw Alyssa Healy produce a captain’s knock for the ages, scoring 142 off 107 balls — the highest individual score ever recorded against India in women’s ODIs.

Her effort, backed by pacer Annabel Sutherland’s five-wicket haul and Ellyse Perry’s composed finish, helped Australia overhaul India’s imposing total of 330 with six balls to spare.

Asked to chase 331, Australia wasted no time in setting the tone, racing to 82 without loss in the first ten overs — the highest ever Power-play score in women’s ODIs.

Healy led the charge, finding boundaries with ease and punishing anything short or wide. She struck 21 fours and three sixes in her innings, dismantling the Indian attack with an array of drives, sweeps, and short-arm jabs.

She built key partnerships, first adding 89 runs with Phoebe Litchfield, who chipped in with a fluent 40, and later forging a 63-run stand with Ashleigh Gardner.

Even after Ellyse Perry retired hurt with cramps, Healy maintained the tempo, reaching her third World Cup hundred and sixth overall in ODIs.

India, however, clawed back late in the game. N. Shree Charani bowled a fine spell and ended Healy’s stay with a sharp catch from Sneh Rana, sparking a collapse. From 265 for three, Australia lost four wickets for 38 runs, including Gardner for 45, Molineux for 13, and McGrath for 12.

At 303 for seven, the game hung in the balance. But Perry returned, composed and determined, to finish what she had started. She found a steady partner in Kim Garth and the pair calmly added the remaining runs. Perry sealed the win in style with a six off the final ball of the 49th over, finishing unbeaten on 47 from 52 deliveries.

Earlier, India looked well on course for a 375-plus total after their openers dominated the Australian bowlers. Smriti Mandhana, finding form at the right time after a slow start to the tournament, scored a brisk 80, while Pratika Rawal registered her maiden World Cup half-century with a solid 75 off 96 balls.

The duo added 155 runs for the first wicket, the highest opening stand against Australia in women’s ODIs. Mandhana’s innings also saw her become the fastest woman to reach 5,000 ODI runs, achieving the milestone in her 112th match.

But the momentum shifted drastically after the 30th over. From a commanding 192 for one, India lost wickets in clusters. Harleen Deol made 38, Jemimah Rodrigues scored 33, and Richa Ghosh chipped in with 32, but none could convert their starts or hold the innings together in the final stretch. Annabel Sutherland capitalized on the chaos, picking up 5 for 40 as India lost their last six wickets for just 36 runs. They were bowled out for 330 in 48.5 overs, falling short of their full 50-over quota—a factor that proved costly in the end.

Despite a late surge by their bowlers, including Charani’s 3 for 41 and two wickets each from Amanjot Kaur and Deepti Sharma, India couldn’t stop Australia from scripting history.

This loss marked India’s second consecutive defeat in the tournament after falling to South Africa earlier in the week. They slipped to third place in the standings, just above the Proteas on net run rate. Australia, with three wins and one no result, remained unbeaten and stayed firmly at the top of the table with seven points. England followed closely with six points from three matches.

(Photo courtesy: Biplab Banerjee/IANS)