Written By Rex Clementine
Healy is a household name of Australian cricket and it will continue to be celebrated world over not just in Australia after Alyssa Healy’s record breaking effort in the ICC Women’s World Cup final against England in Christchurch on Sunday. Alyssa’s uncle Ian Healy was named the wicketkeeper of Australia’s team of the Century that included some of the game’s iconic players like Sir Don Bradman and Keith Miller. One day if the women’s team comes up with such comparisons, Alyssa Healy should feature prominently as well.
During her formative years, Alyssa lived in the shadows of uncle Ian and in recent times she was referred to as the wife of Mitchell Starc. But after Sunday’s stunner her name will stand alongside the legends of Australian cricket.
Alyssa’s 170 is the highest individual score by a wicketkeeper in women’s ODI cricket. Her knock was filled with entertainment as it came off 138 deliveries with 26 boundaries.
Australia’s total of 356 for five in 50 overs is the highest score in a World Cup final and it set up the game for them and gave them an unprecedented seventh World Cup title.
England fought hard but finished on 285 all out with six overs to spare. Natalie Sciver fought a lone battle for England finishing on 148 not out. It’s the second highest individual score by batter in the losing side in history of Women’s ODI cricket and by far the highest in a World Cup final by a player from a losing side.
But Sciver will be kicking herself for dropping Alyssa early in her innings. It proved to be a costly reprieve.
Alyssa was slow off the blocks, but once she was set, there was enough time to catch up with the run rate. Together with Rachel Haynes she added 160 runs for the first wicket inside 30 overs.
A further 156 run stand followed for the second wicket with Beth Mooney and by this time England were losing hope as Australia proved why they are the best team in world cricket.
Alyssa had also scored a hundred in Australia’s semi-final clash proving that she is a big match player.
By the time she was stumped in the 46th over, there was little doubt that we had witnessed the greatest innings in a World Cup final. There was a standing ovation as Alyssa walked back to the pavilion and richly deserved it.
At 32, Alyssa may not be around by the time the next World Cup comes along but she has given us plenty to cherish.
Australia in the end won by 71 runs and they owed it to Alyssa.
