Trisha Ghosal in Visakhapatnam
Australian captain Alyssa Healy led from the front with a scintillating 142, as her team pulled off a record chase against India to go top of the Women’s World Cup table with seven points in four matches. From the struggles early on with the ball to the controlled aggression of the chase, Healy reflected on the team’s performance, her own return to form, and the approach that shaped one of the tournament’s defining victories.
On the game as a whole
Reflecting on how the day unfolded, Healy admitted that Australia’s defence initially looked daunting.
“After about eight or nine overs with the ball, I thought, ‘Oh, what have I done?’ The two Indian openers were really set, and it felt like we’d be chasing a big total,” she laughed.
However, she credited her side for hanging in during the tough phases and closing out both innings well. “We did really well to hang in there and somehow restrict them to 330, which sounds crazy but that’s the nature of the game now. Our batting was excellent. We played to our strengths, straight down the ground, nice and simple. They bowled straight, so we played straight. In the end, we pulled off something pretty special.”
On chasing 330-plus under pressure
Healy emphasised that the key to chasing such a big total was starting well.
“It was about locking in on the job at hand. We hadn’t really managed a good start in this World Cup so far, but Phoebe and I were able to do that today. Once we got going, we tried to bring the required rate down to around six an over. It sounds easy, but sustaining that for 50 overs is not simple. That platform was everything.”
On tactical reading of the Vizag pitch
Having watched India’s previous match on the same surface, Healy said Australia adapted rather than over-planned.
“It wasn’t a distinct plan as such. We did notice that (Sree) Charani, their left-arm spinner, was getting good turn and was probably their best bowler. We thought if we could capitalise on the pace bowlers, that would help, given they only had five main options. The wicket was sliding on nicely, which allowed us to score freely.”
On the bowling unit’s turnaround
India’s strong start with the bat had Australia under early pressure, but Healy praised her bowlers for the way they responded.
“We probably bowled a bit loose early on, either at the start or end of overs, and India cashed in. But Alana King and Annabel Sutherland created a bit of a partnership in the middle overs, built pressure, and that allowed Megan Schutt to cash in at the back end. To pull it back to 330 after that start was a huge effort.”
On finding rhythm after a frustrating spell
Healy, who hadn’t scored big in recent games, spoke candidly about her form struggles.
“If you’d been watching me in the nets, you’d have seen how frustrating it’s been. I just couldn’t find any rhythm. I didn’t know where it had gone! But once you step onto the field, your competitive instincts kick in. Facing India again after they’d got me out a few times in the ODI series, I was up for the contest. It was my day today, which was nice.”
On Australia’s record-breaking chase and batting confidence
Australia’s chase of 331 was the highest in Women’s World Cup history, a fact not lost on Healy.
“At the break, we spoke about how in our last few games against India, we’ve made over 300 a few times and even put 400 on them once. So we knew we could do it, it was about doing it under pressure.
“If we’d batted first, who knows? Maybe we’d have collapsed and made 280. You never really know. But to chase it down, that’s a huge boost for our batting group’s confidence going forward.”
On handling India’s strong start and the pitch conditions
Healy admitted that as captain, there were times she simply had to hang in and trust her bowlers.
“Sometimes you’re hanging on for dear life trying to stop the flow of runs. But I thought it was a really good cricket wicket, it slid on even in the daytime, which was quite unusual. We knew if we started well with the bat, we could maintain that rate through the innings, which we did.
“The depth in our line-up is incredible, Alana King didn’t even get a hit today and she was ready if needed. That’s a great sign for us.”
On reflecting after the win
Healy summed up her innings and Australia’s performance with characteristic balance.
“In a chase like this, someone has to go big, maybe two of you ideally. Today it was my day. I’d have liked to be there till the end, but I’m happy to have put us in a winning position. I’ll reflect on it later and be proud of how we went about it.”
