Australia women’s cricket team defeated England women by 71 runs to lift their record-extending seventh ICC Women’s World Cup title on Sunday at the Hagley Oval, Christchurch. 

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Sent to bat by England captain Heather Knight, Australia have post 356 for 5 in 50 overs after Alyssa Healy, who scored 126 off 107 balls in the semifinal against West Indies, played a brilliant 170 runs knock off 138 balls. She hit 26 boundaries to decorate her innings. 

During her magnificent knock, when Healy crossed the 149-run mark, she broke a record held by another Aussie in a World Cup final. The Australian wicketkeeper-batter went past one of the country’s finest men’s wicketkeepers, Adam Gilchrist to post the highest-ever individual score in a World Cup final – men or women.

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Gilchrist’s 149 against Sri Lanka in the 2007 World Cup final at Bridgetown, Barbados was the previous highest score in the summit clash of the 50-overs World Cup.  In Sunday’s final at the Hagley Oval, England’s Natalie Sciver scored an unbeaten 148 against Australia which is the second-highest score in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022.

Batting first, on Sunday, Australia got off to a fantastic start as their opening duo of Healy and Rachael Haynes (68) shared a 160-run partnership to set the momentum for a massive score. Beth Mooney scored 62 off 47 balls to help Australia post 356 for 5 in 50 overs. 

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England’s medium pacer Anya Shrubsole was the most successful bowler. She picked up three wickets for 46 runs. Sophie Ecclestone and Katherine Brunt were proved expensive as they conceded 71 and 69 runs respectively. 

Nightmarish start for England

Defending champions England’s reply was nothing outstanding, with their opening duo of Tammy Beaumont (27) and Danielle Wyatt (4) falling to pacer Megan Schutt. England lost Wyatt on 12 and then in the seventh over, Schutt struck again to dismiss Beaumont on England’s team score of 38.

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Natalie Sciver’s 148 off 121 balls goes in vain

As England lost wickets in quick intervals, only right-handed Natalie Sciver provided a solid resistance. She in fact raised England’s hope by playing an unbeaten whirlwind 148 off 121 balls knock. She hit 15 boundaries and a six, but her towering effort did not find any company from other England batters. Sophia Dunkley (22) and wicket-keeper Amy Jones (20) tried to provide Sciver with some support but their stay at the crease was cut short by Jess Jonassen and Alana King. In the end, Charlotte Dean played 21 runs innings to keep England’s hope alive with Sciver still at the crease. But Ashleigh Gardner’s off-break got the better of Dean.

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Jess Jonassen eventually got Shrubsole caught by Gardner in the fourth delivery of the 44th over to bowl out England for 285. Jonassen and Alana picked up three wickets each, while Schutt got a brace.

With this, Sciver’s valiant effort has gone unsuccessful, while Healy emerged the star of the final in Australia’s record-extending win over four-time champions England.