Aussie thunderbolts rip apart India

Take a bow Alyssa Healy 

Cricket followers could not believe their eyes and ears as Australia chased down a monumental 331 to beat home team favourites India in their Women’s Cricket Workd Cup match at Visakhapatnam on Sunday night.
Making what would have seemed an impossible target to reach, India were on top of the world and not many gave the Aussie women a dog’s chance to go past the target.
Even an opening stand of 85 in 11.2 overs between Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield did not convince many that Australia were to make history in making the highest total in a run chase to win a women’s ODI match.
But the writing was on the wall as Healy batting like a pro not second to anyone struck the innings of her life making 142 to be the fourth out with the total at 265. She very sportingly walked back after she was caught low down at extra-cover and did not even wait for the umpires to seek a ruling from the television umpire.
But Australia being Australia were never going to give up without a fight and fight they did to seal a most sensational win when Ellyse Perry made her return to the crease after retiring with cramps to clobber the last ball of the 49th over for a six over the bowler’s head.
The Indian camp even got into emotional ecstasy when the fourth Australia wicket fell as their back stage or support staff celebrated as if they had won the World Cup.
The hitting was out of this world for a women’s match, not second to what is witnessed in a men’s match. Healy struck as many as 21 fours and three sixes and she needed just 107 balls to make 142.
Perry had five fours and a six while middle order batter Ashleigh Gardner kept Australia in the game with an unbeaten 45 in 46 balls with three fours and a six.
India’s 330 total made in 48.5 overs revolved around a massive 155-run opening stand between openers Pratika Rawal (75) and Smriti Mandhana (80).

India 330 in 48.5 overs (Pratika Rawal 75, Smriti Mandhana 80, Harleem Deol 38, Jemimah Rodrigues 33, Richa Ghosh 32, Annbel Sutherland 5 for 40, Sophie Molineux 3 for 75)
Australia 331 for 7 in 49 overs (Alyssa Healy 142, Phoebe Litchfield 40, Ellyse Perry 47 not out, Ashleigh Gardner 45, Shree Charani 3 for 41)