World Champions Australia registered the highest successful run chase in Women's ODI history in Vizag on Sunday (October 12). A captain's knock from Alyssa Healy (142 off 107) was the backbone of the chase while Ellyse Perry (47* off 52) battled cramps to give an ice-cool finish with an over to spare.
Needing a mammoth 331 to win on a flat batting surface with small ground dimensions, Healy's fireworks got Australia off the blocks in a jiffy in the first ten overs. Fellow opener Phoebe Litchfield (40 off 39) gave the perfect company as 82 came off the first PowerPlay, setting the platform for the run chase.
India does have the team. Both these games could have been won. 302-5 to 329 all out. Basic common sense lacking. Was the tail instructed not to play big shots? Give it to Sneh?
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) October 12, 2025
Can they be smarter against Eng and NZ? That will define the campaign. @RevSportzGlobal #INDWvsAUSW
Litchfield fell against the run of play but Perry combined with Healy to maintain the tempo of the chase to keep the world champions in control. India weren't able to break the partnership technically but the humidity and cramps forced Perry to retire hurt, briefly giving India a lease of life.
The hosts then got Beth Mooney and Annabel Sutherland cheaply to fully capitalise on that phase of play. All of a sudden, Australia were 170-3 with Perry's status uncertain at that point. Healy, though, was flawless in her innings as she breezed past her hundred and showed the hunger to bat deeper into the innings.
Ashleigh Gardner (45 off 46) chipped in with a priceless innings, adding an invaluable 95-run stand that was game-defining for the Aussies. The duo ensured that India's hopes for a strong comeback were nullified but there were more twists in store once Healy fell to a brilliant catch at backward point.
Tahlia McGrath failed and Gardner fell soon after, but this then forced Perry to return to the crease and the veteran then took control. The Aussie no.3 showed nerves of steel to guide the lower order with her as Australia aced the chase without breaking a sweat (not literally though).
India would be gutted at failing to defend 330 although they could have gotten to a score of 350 with the platform they had upfront. Smriti Mandhana (80 off 66) had set things up with yet another century opening stand with Pratika Rawal (75 off 96) although the latter couldn't bat with the required tempo if you factor in the nature of the pitch.
All the top six batters for India got starts but only the openers were able to some sort of conversion of that start. In fact, they almost lost their way after the 30th over but Jemimah Rodrigues (33 off 21) and Richa Ghosh (32 off 22) combined to ensure that the platform made by the openers didn't entirely go to waste.
Australia, though, were brilliant at the death with Sutherland (5-40) slicing through the lower order with her slower deliveries. Her spell made a difference of about 15-20 runs to the eventual total. Given Australia's dominance, they may still have gotten over the line but a target of around 350 would have given India more leeway with the ball.
With this win, Australia get back on top of the table with three wins and a no-result from four games. India, meanwhile, have lost two on the trot after winning the first two games. Harmanpreet Kaur's girls need two more wins from three games but they have England still left to play.
