Ruthless Australia take women’s World Cup

Opener Alyssa Healy smashed a record 170 as Australia routed England by 71 runs to claim their seventh Women’s World Cup win in Christchurch on Sunday.

Healy’s belligerent 138-ball innings, the highest total in a World Cup final, helped Australia set a mammoth victory target of 357 at Hagley Oval which proved beyond the defending champions despite a fighting century by Nat Sciver.

Sciver’s unbeaten 148 entertained the crowd but she played a lone hand as England were bowled out for 285 with six overs to spare.

“That was pretty special from our group,” said wicketkeeper-batter Healy, player-of-the-match as well as the tournament. “Our team sets out to win events like these.

“We have done it all but to do it on the biggest stage, I never imagined in my wildest dreams.”

Meg Lanning’s Australia finished unbeaten in nine matches, erasing their 2017 World Cup disappointment when they were stunned in the semi-finals by India in England.

The peerless Australians have now won three of the last five 50-over World Cups and own both the major global trophies, having claimed the T20 World Cup on home soil in 2020.

“I think we deserved a victory today,” said skipper Lanning. “It hasn’t been easy but it is nice to be able to get to the end of this block and say we are the champions.”

With England needing more than seven runs an over, Sciver was magnificent in her 121-ball knock but ran out of batting partners.

Captain Heather Knight said she was “massively proud” of her team for reaching the final after losing their first three matches, and defended her decision to field first.

“I think it was a 50-50 decision at the toss,” she said. “Credit to Australia for bringing such a performance in the final.” (Reuters)