Australia thrashed India by 185 runs at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Sunday, March 1, completing a 3-0 sweep of the Women’s ODI series. The match was especially memorable for Alyssa Healy, who announced her ODI farewell in spectacular fashion, crafting a brilliant 79-ball century.
Healy’s masterful innings ensured that she could look back on her final limited-overs appearance in Australian colours with pride and satisfaction.
For India, the series proved to be a nightmare. Coming off their triumph as world champions last year, including a historic semi-final victory over Australia in Navi Mumbai, expectations were high for the Indian team.
However, they were found wanting in Hobart, unable to counter Healy’s dominance. The Indian batters were restricted and eventually bowled out for 224 in 45.1 overs, leaving them completely clueless against the relentless Australian attack.
With the win, Australia extended their lead to 8-4 in the multi-format series, with the Perth Test scheduled to begin on March 6 at the WACA in Perth.
HEALY, MOONEY TAKE INDIA DOWN
Healy bid farewell to ODIs with one of the most dominant innings in women’s cricket to dismantle India’s bowling attack. She scored a majestic 158 off 98 balls at a strike rate of 161.22, including 27 fours and two sixes. The knock powered Australia to a mammoth 409 for 7 in 50 overs, the highest women’s ODI total on Australian soil.
From the moment she walked to the crease, greeted with a guard of honour from the Indian team, Healy looked in complete control. She first built a 104-run partnership with Georgia Voll, who scored 62 off 52 balls, and then joined forces with Beth Mooney for a 145-run stand for the third wicket.
While Healy dominated the strike, Mooney also produced a sensational century, remaining unbeaten on 106 off 84 balls. Annabel Sutherland contributed a quickfire 23, and Nicola Carey finished unbeaten with 34 off 15, helping Australia maintain a relentless run rate of 8.18.
Healy’s innings combined technical mastery with aggressive intent. She punished loose deliveries from Shree Charani and Sneh Rana, including hitting Charani for multiple boundaries and a six in one over.
Despite conceding runs, both Charani and Rana claimed wickets, with Charani recording the most expensive spell by an Indian spinner in ODI history. Healy’s fearless strokeplay ended only when she was bowled by a full toss from Rana while attempting a reverse sweep.
Deepti Sharma also had a day to forget after she leaked 90 runs in her quota of 10 overs. It was Deepti, who broke Yuzvendra Chahal’s record for the most expensive spinner for India in ODIs before Charani surpassed her.
INDIA CRUMBLE UNDER PRESSURE
India’s run-chase in Hobart turned into a nightmare from the very start. Smriti Mandhana, who had been in outstanding form across formats, was dismissed without scoring, leaving India reeling at 8 of 1 in just 1.4 overs. Pratika Rawal and Jemimah Rodrigues attempted to steady the innings, putting together a 54-run partnership, but both fell after getting starts – Rawal for 27 off 21 balls and Rodrigues for 42 off 29.
Harmanpreet Kaur, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, and Richa Ghosh managed to get starts, scoring 25, 14, 29, and 18 respectively, but none could convert them into substantial contributions. Kashvee Gautam also fell cheaply for a duck, compounding India’s struggles.
By the time the eighth wicket fell at 198, the match was effectively over, despite a 63-run partnership between Sneh Rana and Deepti Sharma, with Rana scoring 44 off 74, including six boundaries, in a valiant yet futile effort to delay the inevitable.
Alana King led the Australian attack with devastating figures of 10-1-33-4, while Georgia Wareham and Ashleigh Gardner claimed key wickets. Even Alyssa Healy rolled her arm over in the death overs, enjoying her final ODI appearance.
India’s top and middle order failed to withstand the relentless pressure, and the lower order could not accelerate the scoring as needed. The batting frailties were exposed throughout the innings, as Australia’s bowlers combined pace, spin, and precision to engineer a comprehensive 200-run defeat, completing a series sweep.
