Australia 332 for 7 (Healy 133) beat India 235 (Mandhana 52, Gardner 3-39) by 97 runs
When Australia toured India the last time, in 2012, Meg Lanning’s 128 had hoisted them to their highest total against India of 300 for 7. On Sunday, Alyssa Healy’s 133 – her maiden international century in her 112th innings across formats – bettered that record to 332 for 7 and consigned the hosts to a 97-run defeat.
In becoming the first Australia women wicketkeeper to notch up an ODI hundred, Healy’s 115-ball innings helped her side to their third-highest total in the format, the highest ever by a visiting team against India, and contributed to a 3-0 clean sweep. The win also propelled Australia to the top of the ICC rankings in ODIs, superseding England.
That Healy and Australia could pummel India after having elected to bat was down to a slew of gaffes from the Indian fielders, including seven dropped chances – six of which were fairly straightforward ones – and a missed stumping. Australia were on 29 for 1 in the eighth over, thanks to Ekta Bisht already having sent back Nicole Bolton, the highest run-scorer of the series, with a plucky return catch, when the sloppiness in the field began.
Until then, Shikha Pandey’s figures were 3-0-7-0, and Healy’s score read 13 off 22. But it proved to be the most expensive over of the match, as Lanning caressed a cover drive for four off the first ball, followed by a four and a six from Healy. Pandey’s shot at redemption came off the last ball, with Healy flicking her nonchalantly to deep square leg only to be given a life by Mona Meshram, who was playing her first game of the series, having come in Veda Krishnamurthy. Not only did Meshram let the ball through her hands, but it trickled over the rope for a four.
Full report to follow
Source: ESPN Crickinfo