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There couldn't be a better end to Alyssa Healy's illustrious ODI career, where she not only cracked a superlative century but also powered Australia women to an emphatic 185-run win over India women in the third ODI on March 1.
Australia sweep series 3-0 with 185-run vs India in 3rd ODI
Alyssa Healy, who was playing her last match for Australia in the 50-over format, tonked a towering 158 off 98 balls to help Australia post a colossal total of 409/7. In reply, India could only post 224 and were thus handed a hefty 185-run defeat in the end, thanks to Alana King's fiery four-fer. With this Australia swept India 3-0 in the three-match series.
India run out of steam in big chase
India’s pursuit of the massive target faltered almost immediately when Nicola Carey dismissed Smriti Mandhana for a duck in the second over. Despite the early setback, Pratika Rawal and Jemimah Rodrigues briefly reignited hope with a defiant, counter-attacking partnership, racing to 54 runs in just under six overs. However, the momentum shifted back to Australia when Annabel Sutherland trapped Rawal LBW. Rodrigues, who had looked dangerous during her 42-run cameo, soon followed her to the pavilion after being caught by debutant Lucy Hamilton off the bowling of Ash Gardner.
By the 20th over, the Indian middle order had crumbled under the pressure of the mounting run rate. The loss of key wickets, including Harleen Deol and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, left India reeling with fewer than 120 runs on the board. Australia’s victory seemed imminent as Alana King tore through the lower order, dismissing Richa Ghosh and Kashvee Gautam in quick succession to put the hosts on the brink of a rapid win.
A late-innings resistance from Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana provided some respectability to the scoreline, as the pair combined for a gritty 63-run stand for the eighth wicket. Their efforts pushed India past the 200-run mark, ensuring the defeat wasn't even more lopsided. Nevertheless, India remained a distant second throughout the contest, eventually falling well short of the target as Alana King capped off a dominant bowling performance with figures of 4/33.
Alyssa Healy retires from ODIs in style
Healy’s farewell ODI performance was so dominant that it managed to overshadow a brilliant unbeaten century from Beth Mooney. Leading the charge, Healy propelled Australia to a massive total of 409, a target that proved far beyond India’s reach. This 185-run victory secured a 3-0 clean sweep in the ODI leg and gave the hosts a decisive 8-4 lead in the multi-format series, thoroughly humbling the reigning World Cup champions.
The match began with a poignant moment as India provided a guard of honor for Healy in her final ODI appearance. Although she started cautiously with a maiden over against Renuka Singh, she soon found her rhythm with a trademark pull shot off Kashvee Gautam. While she benefited from a bit of luck—including a close DRS call and a missed fielding opportunity—her skill quickly took over, shifting the momentum of the game entirely in Australia’s favor.
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Healy reached her half-century in 49 balls, finding an excellent partner in Georgia Voll. Coming off a recent hundred herself, Voll contributed a sharp 62 in a 104-run partnership. Even when Voll was dismissed after miscuing a shot to long-on, Australia’s scoring rate remained relentless. Healy continued her surge, reaching her eighth ODI century in just 79 balls before entering an extraordinary hitting zone where she moved from 100 to 150 in a mere 16 deliveries. This feat marked the highest score ever recorded in a women’s ODI on Australian soil.
Her record-breaking innings eventually ended in unusual fashion when she was bowled while attempting a reverse paddle sweep against a Sneh Rana full toss. Despite a suspected calf injury and falling short of a potential double-century, Healy left the field to a standing ovation, joining an elite group of players to score a hundred in their final ODI.
Following Healy's departure, Beth Mooney took full control of the innings. After a slow start, she accelerated rapidly, reaching her sixth ODI century off 82 balls. Mooney finished unbeaten on 106, supported by a late-innings cameo from Nicola Carey, who smashed 34 off just 15 balls.
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