Australia wins seventh Women’s World Cup title
Australia powered their way to their seventh ICC Women’s World Cup title to rubberstamp their dominance as the most powerful team on the planet in Christchurch yesterday.
Meg Lanning’s side beat defending champions England by 71 runs to maintain their unbeaten record in the competition.
England’s run chase was led by Nat Sciver’s brilliant 148 not out. But the allrounder, unfortunately, did not have the support Australia’s batting hero Allysa Healy had earlier in the day as the 2017 champions were bowled out for 285.
Healy was the mainstay of Australia’s dominant batting display with a majestic 170, but it formed part of match-winning partnerships of 160 for the first wicket with Rachael Haynes (68) and 156 for the second with Beth Mooney (62) that powered Australia to 356/5.
Instead, England’s biggest partnership was a 65-run stand for the ninth wicket between Sciver and No 10 Charlie Dean (21).
Healy’s magnificent individual effort ensured she finished as the leading run-scorer in the history of the Women’s World Cup with 509 runs. She surpassed her teammate and opener partner Haynes’ 497 that was only achieved midway through the Australian innings.
Haynes had earlier overtaken New Zealand’s Debbie Hockley’s 456-run mark that was set 25 years ago in India.
Unlike England who dropped four catches during their fielding effort, including Healy twice in over before she had 50, Australia produced a slick performance worthy of world champions in the field.
This effort provided their bowling unit with the support they required, with legspinner Alana King once again the chief wicket-taker with figures of 3/64. Spin partner Jess Jonassen also chipped in with 3/58, while Megan Schutt claimed 2/42.