Australia’s Alyssa Healy reacts to shattering all-time record at World Cup

Alyssa Healy scored 170 runs off 138 balls in Australia’s ICC Women’s World Cup final win against England at the Hagley Oval, Christchurch on Sunday. Meg Lanning won the match by 71 runs. 

With the triumph against Heather Knight’s side, Australia have now won a record seven World Cup titles. 

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Healy now holds the record for most number of runs in a World Cup edition by a woman. She also pipped the likes of Viv Richards and Adam Gilchrist for highest score in an ICC final. 

“I’m 32 and I’ve seen it all. Our team sets out to win events like these and everyone is sort of keen to get out there and do just that, grateful for the opportunity,” Healy said after defeating England. 

She was named the player of the match and tournament. 

Wife of Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, Healy addded that she is proud of the batting unit. 

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“You probably couldn’t have asked for anything more. Proud of the batting unit. We have done some amazing things this whole tournament, so to be able to do it one more time on the biggest stage was impressive,” Healy said. 

Healy overtook  New Zealand great Debbie Hockley’s 25-year-old record (456 runs in the 1997 World Cup), but also became the first woman cricketer to score 500 or more runs in a single edition of the tournament.

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“Never in my wildest dreams did I ever thought I’d do something like that so it is pretty cool. We knew the first 10 overs was going to be the most challenging part of the game and we got two world class bowlers swinging the ball,” she added. 

Alyssa Healy’s opening partner Rachel Haynes also pipped Hockley. The 35-year-old finished the Womens’ World Cup 2022 with 497 runs. 

Healy said Haynes should have won the player of the tournament award for her consistency.

“We just knew we had to hold our nerve. I enjoy batting with Rach (Rachael Haynes) and it’s what we set out to do and we ticked that box. No way (on two fifties and two hundreds). I shouldn’t have received this award but Rach should have because I just turned up for the last two games.” Healy added.

Both Healy and Haynes were dropped in their 40s in the same over. 

“I think everyone has worked very hard for this. It has been a five-year wait for a title people said we would have had. Will reflect on the three months that we have had,” said Healy who was also a member of the Australia squad in the 2017 edition.

“Not sunk in yet. Special game of cricket, very high scoring. It is something we have been working towards for a long period of time. To get over the line was pretty cool.”