Melbourne (Australia): A record-breaking attendance for a women’s cricket match of 86,174 watched on as Australia beat India by 85 runs in the T20 Women’s World Cup at the MCG here on Sunday.
Openers Alyssa Healy smashed a quick-fire 75 and Beth Mooney an unbeaten 78 as the defending champions plundered an ominous 184 for four — the highest score ever in a women’s T20 final.
The pair put on 115 and never looked back, with Healy (75) breaking record after record and lighting up Melbourne with a jaw-dropping display.
India’s bid to chase 185 was always going to be difficult, with leading wicket-taker Megan Schutt taking the first four-wicket haul in a final to restrict Harmanpreet Kaur’s side to 99 all out.
For Meg Lanning, meanwhile, the greatest moment in her career is complete – following in the footsteps of Lyn Larsen and Michael Clarke in winning an ICC event as Australia captain on home soil.
Indian nerves were evident immediately and Healy ensured she pounced with three boundaries off Deepti Sharma’s opening over.
Healy striking the biggest six of the tournament at 83 metres before repeating the trick down the ground to maintain the flying start.
Three successive sixes over long on, long off and then cover took Healy to the highest score in a Women’s T20 World Cup Final while the opening duo combined for the second century partnership in the showcase.
Healy’s 75 featured seven fours and five sixes in the 39 balls but consistent Mooney kept on her merry way, reaching her 50 from 41 balls to end the 15th over at 142 for one.
Disappointing start by India
India’s chase started in disappointing fashion with Shafali Verma brilliantly caught behind by Healy off Schutt, who had feared facing the 16-year-old sensation in the Powerplay.
One became two as Jemimah Rodrigues could only chip Jess Jonassen (three for 20) to Nicola Carey at mid-on, leaving Kaur and Smriti Mandhana to begin the rebuild.
Back-to-back fours got Mandhana going but her bid for a third proved her undoing, chipping Sophie Molineux’s first ball to mid-on to leave India at 18 for three.
For the first time in 15 matches, India lost four wickets in the Powerplay to make an already tough task even harder in Melbourne.
Sharma and Krishnamurthy (19) began the rebuild until the latter holed out to mid-off off Delissa Kimmince, ending a positive partnership of 28.
Richa Ghosh then came out to the middle, a concussion replacement for Tanya Bhatia who had to leave the field during her earlier batting effort.
The 16-year-old Ghosh (18) batted valiantly alongside Sharma but the required rate continued to rise with 104 needed from the last five overs. (Source: ICC-Media)
Brief Scores: Australia 184-4, 20 overs (Beth Mooney 78 not out, Alyssa Healy 75; Deepti Sharma 2-38) beat India 99 all out, 19.1 overs (Deepti Sharma 33; Megan Schutt 4-18, Jess Jonassen 3-20).
