MUMBAI — In a breathtaking display of power-hitting and sheer will, Alyssa Healy authored one of the greatest innings in women's one-day international history, her majestic 142 propelling Australia to a record-breaking chase and a thrilling three-wicket victory over India in a pivotal 2025 World Cup encounter at the Wankhede Stadium.
Faced with a colossal target of 317 set by a dominant Indian batting performance, the Australian captain walked to the crease with the weight of her team's tournament hopes on her shoulders and proceeded to play an innings for the ages, blending audacious stroke-play with calculated aggression to guide her side home with just seven balls to spare.
A Platform of Fireworks from India
India's imposing total of 316 for 7 was built on the back of a spectacular 124 from the prodigious Shafali Verma and a composed 88 from the ever-reliable Smriti Mandhana. The pair put on a blistering 178-run opening stand in just 28 overs, taking the Australian bowling attack to task on a pristine batting wicket. Verma, in particular, was merciless, dispatching the ball to all parts of the ground with breathtaking power. Posting a formidable total seemed a near-certainty, with India's key contributors including:
- Shafali Verma: 124 runs from 110 deliveries, including 14 fours and 4 sixes.
- Smriti Mandhana: 88 runs from 96 balls, providing the perfect foil for Verma's explosiveness.
- Richa Ghosh: A late cameo of 38 from 22 balls that provided crucial momentum.
Australian leg-spinner Alana King was the pick of the bowlers, managing to stem the flow of runs in the middle overs and finishing with figures of 3 for 58, but the general consensus at the innings break was that India held all the cards.
Healy Takes Center Stage
The record for the highest successful chase in women's ODI history stood at 289, a mark that seemed distant as Australia began their reply. The early loss of Beth Mooney only seemed to galvanize Healy. She and Phoebe Litchfield (41) rebuilt the innings with a 95-run partnership, but it was after Litchfield's dismissal that Healy truly unleashed. She targeted the Indian spinners with a ferocity that stunned the home crowd, charging down the wicket and lofting the ball with stunning clarity and power.
Healy's century came off just 87 balls, a knock punctuated by 15 boundaries and 3 sixes. She was particularly severe on anything short or over-pitched, and her footwork against spin was a masterclass. Australian coach Shelley Nitschke, visibly emotional after the match, stated, "That was pure leadership. To play an innings of that magnitude, under that pressure, it's one of the best you will ever see."
The Supporting Cast and Tense Finale
While Healy was the undisputed star, the chase required significant contributions from the middle order. Ellyse Perry's gritty 45 from 49 balls provided crucial stability during a period where the required run rate crept above seven. The pair added 118 runs for the third wicket, a partnership that shifted the momentum firmly in Australia's favor. However, when both Perry and Tahlia McGrath fell in quick succession, a wave of tension swept through the Australian camp.
With 45 needed from the final five overs, Healy was finally dismissed, caught in the deep off the bowling of Deepti Sharma, to a standing ovation from the entire stadium. The game was now in the hands of the lower order. Ashleigh Gardner (22*) and Annabel Sutherland (15*) held their nerve magnificently, navigating the final overs with a mix of sensible singles and calculated boundaries to seal a historic win.
A dejected Indian captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, conceded the brilliance of the opposition, saying, "We thought 316 was a winning total. We batted exceptionally well. But sometimes you just have to put your hands up and acknowledge a champion innings. Healy was simply phenomenal today."
A Record-Breaking Feat
The victory was not just about two points; it was a statement of intent from the defending champions. The chase of 317 shattered the previous women's ODI record and announced Australia's arrival in the tournament in the most dramatic fashion possible. The innings also cemented Healy's legacy as one of the most destructive and clutch players the game has ever seen, her knock surpassing her own previous best in ODIs.
The match will be remembered for its key turning points and individual brilliance:
- The Opening Assault: India's 178-run opening partnership that seemed to set an insurmountable target.
- Healy's Counter-Punch: The Australian captain's fearless century, seizing the momentum back for her side.
- The Perry Partnership: The 118-run stand that provided the backbone of the chase under immense pressure.
- The Cool Finish: Gardner and Sutherland's nerveless partnership to cross the finish line.
Speaking after receiving her Player of the Match award, a jubilant but exhausted Healy reflected on the innings, "It was one of those days where everything just clicked. We knew it was a big total, but we also knew the wicket was brilliant. I just wanted to be there at the end, and I'm so proud of the girls for getting us over the line."
The result throws Group A of the World Cup wide open, with Australia signaling they remain the team to beat. For India, it was a harsh lesson in closing out games, but the tournament is long, and both teams showed why they are considered among the favorites for the crown. Ultimately, however, this day belonged to Alyssa Healy and an Australian side that refused to believe the chase was impossible.