Alyssa Healy Blasts Another Ton to Power Australia into World Cup Semi-Finals

The Australian skipper has delivered brilliant back-to-back hundreds to steer her team into the semi-finals of the World Cup, inspiring them to a commanding 10-wicket trouncing over their opponents.

Healy finished unbeaten on 113, arriving just four days after her similarly stellar 142 that defeated hosts India at the same Vizag stadium. This time, she shared an undefeated double-century first-wicket stand with her opening partner (84 not out) to dash to their target of 199 runs in just 24.5 overs.

“I thought I was a little bit poor behind the stumps, and perhaps a bit as skipper as well tonight, but we’ll accept the win and move on,” Healy remarked.

Ironically, the utmost expertise of Thursday’s chase as the duo added 202 followed perhaps the team's weakest performance in the fielding department under the captain's leadership, with the skipper criticizing herself in particular for spilling a couple of the six chances that went down.

“I was a little bit disappointed with my glovework, and I needed to compensate with the bat, and fortunately got the job done,” she added.

Since data was initially recorded on fielding performance statistics in the year 2013, the six dropped opportunities represented Australia’s worst fielding display at a World Cup tournament.

“Perhaps it’s just that phase of the tournament – we’ve been here a little while, and it’s something we’ll review,” the captain said.

It helped the opposition to eke out 9-198 after they had opted to bat, their highest total in an One-Day International against Australia, with a key batter compiling the maiden half-century ever for the Asian side against the reigning champions.

But the spinner's spellbinding unbroken ten-over spell, in which she claimed 2-18 with four maidens, was key to making sure the team's target remained manageable.

The Captain Pleased with Victory that Confirms Semi-Final Spot

The Australian skipper was pleased to learn that the victory, which puts her undefeated team top of the standings on nine points after four victories and a wash-out, secures them a berth in the last-four. “That’s really cool,” she said.

The experienced captain raced to her century off just 73 deliveries, the quickest century of the tournament, and finished with 20 boundaries off the 77 balls she faced as she pulled away from Litchfield later in the knock after they had gone practically shot for shot towards their fifties.

The Opener Shines with Maiden Tournament Fifty

Left-hander Litchfield struck 12 fours and a six, getting to her maiden tournament fifty off 46 deliveries soon after her partner reached hers off 43. They went on to achieve the third-highest stand by any Australian pair at a Women’s World Cup.

In the first innings, during the subpar fielding effort, Healy spilled the easiest of chances off a teammate and also was unable to hold on to a difficult lofted one off Annabel Sutherland. Annoyingly, she also take a clean catch off the same bowler but didn’t have it reviewed when the official turned down their appeal.

The recalled Darcie Brown bowled the fastest deliveries at the World Cup so far but was still the team's costliest bowler, going for 0-52 off her nine overs.

Spinners Thrive as King Stars

In contrast, the slow bowlers excelled, led by King, whose performance could have been more successful if a fielder hadn’t missed one in the slips.

Other spin bowlers Georgia Wareham (two for 22 off seven) and Ash Gardner (two for 48 off nine overs) both contributed, while Sutherland strengthened her position as the competition's leading wicket-taker with her two for 41, bringing her tally to thirteen.

Rubya Haider’s 44 runs and another's not out 66 off 80 balls took Bangladesh to their record total against the Aussies, but the total was rendered easy meat by a side who had chased down 330 runs against the Indian side four days earlier.

“It's fantastic when you’ve got the ‘Q’ beside your name in a World Cup,” said star performer Alana King. “No doubt it doesn’t stop here. We look forward to returning to the next venue to take on England and the Proteas.”

Nathan Wheeler
Nathan Wheeler

A tech journalist with over a decade of experience covering AI and digital transformation, passionate about exploring how technology shapes society.

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