Australia Women scripted history in Visakhapatnam, chasing 331 to defeat India by three wickets — the highest successful pursuit in women’s ODI history — as Alyssa Healy’s masterclass and Ellyse Perry’s grit powered a comeback for the ages.
Alyssa Healy’s dazzling 142 off 107 balls set the tone for a record-breaking chase as Australia Women overhauled India’s formidable 330-run total in Visakhapatnam. Despite a spirited Indian fightback led by Renuka Singh and Deepti Sharma, Australia held their nerve, sealing a three-wicket win in the final over — registering the highest-ever successful chase in women’s ODIs. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma had earlier starred in India’s strong batting show, but death-over lapses cost them dearly.
🏏 Visakhapatnam, October 13 — History in the Coastal Heat
Under the coastal sun of Visakhapatnam, the crowd of over 20,000 watched women’s cricket enter the record books.
Australia, chasing 331, reached the target in 49.4 overs, beating India by three wickets and setting the new benchmark for the highest successful run chase in women’s One-Day International history.
For the Indian team, it was a heartbreak laced with hope — a defeat that hurt, yet showcased the growing fearlessness of a side no longer content to merely compete.
🌟 Alyssa Healy: A Captain’s Knock for the Ages
If there was ever an innings that captured control, aggression, and composure in equal measure, Alyssa Healy’s 142 off 107 balls was it.
Walking in to open alongside Phoebe Litchfield, Healy weathered early swing from Renuka Singh and struck her first boundary with an elegant square drive — a signature of intent. What followed was a masterclass in tempo: rotating strike, punishing short balls, and converting gaps into boundaries with ruthless precision.
By the 25th over, Australia had surged to 180/1, with Healy notching up her 11th ODI century — her celebration, a brief punch of the air, mirrored the determination of a champion refusing to relent.
“It was about staying present. The wicket was true, and I wanted to bat deep,”
— Healy said at the post-match presentation.
Her partnership with Tahlia McGrath (61 off 71) added 128 runs and effectively dismantled India’s spinners.
💔 India’s Brave Fightback
Even as Healy blazed away, India refused to vanish quietly.
After Sneh Rana’s clever off-spin broke through McGrath’s defense, Renuka Singh produced a thrilling burst that brought India back into the contest. In the space of six overs, she dismissed Beth Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner, turning the game on its head.
The Vizag crowd roared — from the stands draped in tricolor to the makeshift banners reading “Women in Blue, our pride!” — as India clawed back momentum.
When Healy finally fell for 142, lofting a mistimed drive to long-off, Australia still needed 76 runs from 58 balls.
Enter Ellyse Perry — nursing a bruised elbow after earlier retiring hurt — who returned at No. 7 to script the finishing act.
🔥 Perry’s Return: Courage and Class
Ellyse Perry’s return was straight from a cricketing screenplay.
She had retired hurt in the 39th over after a blow to the arm, yet returned in the 46th with Australia teetering at 294/6. The game was poised, the pressure immense, and India’s bowlers — especially Deepti Sharma and Meghna Singh — sensed opportunity.
With nine required off the final over, Perry’s first shot was a crunching pull through midwicket. Two singles followed, and then — a flick over square leg — sealed the game with two balls to spare.
Perry remained unbeaten on 34 off 28, reminding the cricketing world why she remains one of the sport’s defining all-rounders.
“Pain doesn’t matter when you’re playing for your team,”
— Perry smiled during the post-match presentation.
“It’s about composure in the moments that matter.”
🇮🇳 India’s Batting Brilliance: Mandhana & Shafali Set the Stage
Earlier in the day, India posted 330/6 — a total that would have won nine out of ten ODIs, but not this one.
Smriti Mandhana (118 off 123) and Shafali Verma (74 off 59) gave India their best start of the tournament, compiling a 148-run opening stand that rattled the Australian attack.
Mandhana’s innings was a blend of grace and aggression — drives along the ground, lofted sweeps, and calculated risk-taking. Her third century of the year came off a crisp single into covers, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd.
“We wanted intent from ball one, and we delivered that,”
— Mandhana said post-match.
When she fell to Megan Schutt’s slower ball, India were 238/3, well on track for 350+.
However, Australia’s death bowling, led by Annabel Sutherland and Ashleigh Gardner, restricted the hosts in the final five overs — conceding only 37 runs.
📉 Turning Points
Every great game has its hinges — moments where momentum flickers and fortune turns.
For this ODI classic, there were five:
- Mandhana’s wicket at 238/3: Broke India’s surge and slowed acceleration.
- Healy’s century stand with McGrath: Neutralized India’s spin advantage.
- Renuka’s twin-strike burst: Revived hope and charged the crowd.
- Perry’s comeback: A moment of resilience that deflated India’s final push.
- India’s death bowling: Lack of yorker precision under pressure cost them 28 runs in the last three overs.
💬 Captains Speak
Alyssa Healy (Australia Captain):
“We were pushed to the edge by a terrific Indian side. It’s special to chase 330 — but what’s more satisfying is how we did it, under pressure.”
Harmanpreet Kaur (India Captain):
“Our intent with the bat was outstanding. Smriti and Shafali showed the way. But we have to close out games when we’re ahead — that’s the next step.”
Kaur’s voice carried pride and frustration — the tone of a leader aware that her side has evolved but not yet crossed the final bridge of execution.
📊 Match Summary
| Detail | India Women | Australia Women |
| Score | 330/6 (50 overs) | 331/7 (49.4 overs) |
| Result | Australia won by 3 wickets | |
| Top Scorer | Smriti Mandhana (118) | Alyssa Healy (142) |
| Best Bowler | Renuka Singh (3/56) | Annabel Sutherland (2/57) |
| Venue | Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium, Visakhapatnam |
📈 Record Corner
- Highest successful chase in women’s ODI history (previous: 322 by Australia vs Sri Lanka, 2017).
- Healy’s 142 — her 11th ODI ton — ranks 4th highest by an Australian in ODIs.
- Mandhana’s 118 — her 8th ODI century — ties her with Mithali Raj for most by an Indian woman in ODIs.
- Combined total of 661 runs — second-highest match aggregate in women’s ODIs.
These statistics underscore not just a thrilling contest but a new era in women’s cricket — one where boundaries, both literal and metaphorical, continue to expand.
📺 Tactical Breakdown
India’s Approach: Powerplay Intent
India’s batting approach was notably modern — attacking in the first 10 overs, rotating in the middle, and accelerating post-30th. The return of Jemimah Rodrigues at No. 3 added stability, while Harmanpreet’s promotion at No. 4 ensured constant pressure.
Australia’s Middle-Overs Management
Australia absorbed pressure masterfully. When India slowed run flow with spin, Healy and McGrath focused on singles and two-run conversions, maintaining a required rate below 7 throughout. Their ability to neutralize Deepti and Pooja Vastrakar in the middle overs proved decisive.
Bowling Misses
India’s seamers struggled with length in the final overs. While Renuka impressed upfront, the lack of consistent yorkers and slower bouncers allowed Perry and Sutherland to regain momentum late.
🌏 The Bigger Picture: Women’s Cricket Evolves
The Vizag ODI was more than a match; it was a marker of transformation.
For decades, women’s ODIs rarely crossed 250. Now, totals of 300+ are becoming the new normal.
The contest reflected:
- Improved strike rates across batting orders.
- Expanded boundary hitting, particularly in the powerplays.
- Sharper fitness and fielding standards, narrowing the gap with men’s formats.
“Women’s cricket has entered a phase of fearless cricket,”
— observed Lisa Sthalekar, former Australia captain and commentator.
“Both teams showed it’s not just about skills anymore — it’s about belief.”
🏟️ Crowd & Atmosphere: A New Benchmark for Support
Visakhapatnam’s stadium was packed — a testament to how far women’s cricket has come.
Families filled the stands, holding signs for Mandhana, Verma, and Perry alike. The Mexican wave circled twice during India’s innings, while Healy’s boundary-laden chase drew applause even from rival fans.
Local vendors sold tricolor wristbands, and chants of “Bharat! Bharat!” echoed late into the evening.
As floodlights flickered and the scoreboard read 331/7, the crowd rose — not just for the victors, but for the spectacle of sport itself.
🧠 What India Can Take Forward
Despite the defeat, the Indian team’s takeaways are positive:
- Opening Partnership: Mandhana–Verma combination delivers consistent power starts.
- Middle Order Solidity: Rodrigues and Harmanpreet balancing attack and control.
- Bowling Adjustments: Need sharper death-over plans — particularly variation-based.
- Fielding Efficiency: Four dropped chances cost 27 runs — a key area for review.
India’s next fixture against South Africa becomes pivotal for semi-final qualification, but momentum and belief remain intact.
🎯 Expert Opinion: What This Win Means for Australia
Cricket experts describe the chase as a statement victory for Australia, proving that even on high-scoring subcontinental pitches, they remain the gold standard in pursuit management.
“This was not dominance — it was defiance,”
— said Mel Jones, former Australian cricketer.
“To chase 331 away from home shows Australia’s adaptability and mental strength.”
🔚 Conclusion: A Game That Redefined the Limits
The Visakhapatnam ODI will be remembered not just for records, but for rhythm — of two teams pushing each other to the brink, redefining what’s possible in women’s cricket.
Alyssa Healy’s blade wrote history. Smriti Mandhana’s century carved hope.
Between them, they built a match that transcended result — a cricketing classic, reminding fans that the women’s game now stands shoulder to shoulder with its male counterpart in skill, intensity, and spectacle.
As players shook hands under the warm Vizag lights, the scoreboard might have favored Australia — but women’s cricket was the real winner.
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