Healy's brilliant 170 leads Australia to 7th Women's World Cup title

Christchurch: Australia went into the 2022 Womens World Cup final against England as the lone unbeaten team in the tournament. The end of the final in a day-night affair at Hagley Oval on Sunday, they justified their pre-tournament favourites billing as well as the domination in the mega event to win their seventh ODI World Cup title, defeating England by 71 runs.

The win was set up by wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy's brilliance in the form of a scintillating 170 off 138 balls in what was unarguably one of the finest knocks witnessed in the 50-over format, irrespective of men's or women's cricket.

Apart from a brilliant Healy, her opening partner Rachael Haynes hit 68 while Beth Mooney justified her promotion to number three with a quick 47-ball 62 as Australia amassed a mammoth 356/5 in 50 overs.

In reply, Nat Sciver fought hard with an unbeaten 148 but other batters couldn't provide her with the required support as England slumped to 285 all out in 43.4 overs.

After seeing off the swing challenge from pacers Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole in the first 10 overs, Healy and Haynes opened up to go on a rampage, pushing England on the back-foot. While Haynes was the early aggressor, Healy soon took over from her to dish out a masterclass in making a big knock at a World Cup final.

Australia, especially Healy, took advantage of England's errors on the field as well as with the ball. In the 21st over, both Healy and Haynes were dropped by Nat Sciver and Danni Wyatt on 42 and 47 respectively off pacer Kate Cross.

Though Haynes couldn't get a century, Healy ensured that she stayed at the crease after the 160-run partnership to bring her second successive century in the knockout matches of the ongoing mega event.

Against the spinners, Healy made use of her feet to dominate the spinners, especially Charlie Dean. She went back-foot at times to nail her cuts and drives and even brought out the scoop twice to get runs at a rapid rate. Mooney complimented her well with her brisk shots during the partnership of 156 for the second wicket.

During her whirlwind knock of 170, Healy became the first player, men's or women's, to score more than 150 in a World Cup final, going past 149 made by Adam Gilchrist in the 2007 men's final against Sri Lanka.

Her tally of 509 runs has made her the leading run-scorer of the tournament and is also the most runs scored by a player in an edition of the women's Cricket World Cup.

Brief Scores: Australia 356/5 in 50 overs (Alyssa Healy 170, Rachael Haynes 68; Anya Shrubsole 3/46, Sophie Ecclestone 1/71) beat England 285 all out in 43.4 overs (Nat Sciver 148 not out, Tammy Beaumont 27; Alana King 3/59, Jess Jonassen 3/58) by 71 runs.

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