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Healy signs off with stunning 158 as Australia sweep ODI series
One of the most well-known careers in Women's ODIs came to an end with a thunderclap as the curtain fell. Alyssa Healy destroyed the Bellerive Oval with her 158 runs off 98 balls, 27 fours, and two sixes. If Healy had been given the chance, she might not have been able to write a better farewell.
Even Beth Mooney's century (106* off 84 balls) was overlooked due to Healy's knock, which was so spectacular. Australia posted a gargantuan 409 and India were barely able to lay a glove on it. The hosts defeated the defending World Cup champions by 185 runs to take an unassailable 8-4 lead in the multi-format series and sweep the ODI leg 3-0.
After Harmanpreet Kaur won yet another toss, the day began with a ceremony. As Healy entered the field for her final ODI innings, India erected a honor guard, and Healy retaliated with ruthless brutality. Funny enough, her hostility began when she was confronted by a Renuka Singh maiden. A trademark pull off Kashvee Gautam then got things moving, and from that moment it felt like the tempo of the game had changed for good. There was luck as well as genius, and Healy's genius far outweighed the luck, with a Rana miss at short fine that scuttled to the fence and an lbw shout that DRS deemed the umpire's call on hitting leg stump.
She went about her business alongside Georgia Voll, who played a bristling supporting role, and reached fifty off of 49 balls with excellent control. Voll, who had just scored a century on the same surface two days earlier, was fantastic in a 52-ball 62-run stand that added 104 runs. However, Voll's dismissal, miscuing Sneh Rana to long-on, barely registered as a check on Australia's momentum.
Healy made no apologies. With just 79 balls, she scored her eighth ODI century, equaling the second-most by an Australian woman, before ascending to a level reserved for very few players. She took just 16 balls to go from 100 to 150, becoming only the second woman to score 150 or more in an ODI. She also scored the highest score ever in a women's ODI played in Australia and the highest anywhere against India. She was also the second fastest woman to score 150.
With 13.3 overs remaining, Rana's stumps were rattled behind her back with a premeditated reverse paddle sweep to a rank full toss, which was almost comical. A glimpse of a double century had appeared. However, Healy's second-innings management of a suspected calf problem probably played a role. She was the only woman to score a century in their final ODI, joining Johmari Logtenberg, and she left to a standing ovation.
After that, Beth Mooney took center stage and demonstrated why she is one of the modern game's most complete batters. She began cautiously, managing just 2 of her first 12 balls, before unfurling the full range in a stand of 145 with Healy. Mooney swiftly increased the pace after Healy left. Only 29 balls were required for her second fifty. She scored 106 runs without being out from 84 balls in the final over, making it her sixth ODI century.
Nicola Carey hit a brutal 34 not out from just 15 balls to go along with her. The pair took 22 from Shree Charani's final over, making her the third woman in ODI history to concede more than 100 runs in an innings and bringing Australia's total close to 400. In fact, she was one of three India bowlers to leak more than 80 on the day, a stark reflection of the punishment they endured.
India were barely in the chase once Nicola Carey dismissed Smriti Mandhana for a duck in the second over. Pratika Rawal and Jemimah Rodrigues led a vigorous counter-attacking partnership that reached 54 in just 5.5 overs. However, Jemimah Rodrigues' boundary-laden 29-ball 42 was ended by Ash Gardner thanks to a catch from debutant Lucy Hamilton. Rawal was run out by Annabel Sutherland and Jemimah Rodrigues was run out by Rawal. With less than 120 runs on the board, India also lost Harleen Deol and Harmanpreet Kaur within the 20th over.
When Alana King took over, she bowled out Richa Ghosh and Kashvee Gautam, giving the impression that Australia would win quickly. However, Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana saved India's blushes somewhat with a 63-run stand for the eighth wicket. India passed 200 but finished a distant second, in the game and the series, with King finishing with figures of 4 for 33.