Australia Defeat England By 71 Runs To Lift The Women's World Cup For 7th Time

Alyssa Healy's 170 proved too good in front of Natalie Sciver's unbeaten 148 in the World Cup Final.

Cricket Image for Australia Defeat England By 71 Runs To Lift The Women's World Cup For 7th Time (Image Source: Twitter)

Natalie Sciver's fighting century couldn't help England defend the world title as Australians proved too good to beat on the day of the World Cup Final. The Meg Lanning-led side defeated defending champions England by 71 runs to win the Women's World Cup for the seventh time. 

Australia dominated throughout the match. Alyssa Healy scored a world record century in the first inning (170 off 138 balls) to take Australia to 356/5. Healy's century was the highest score in a World Cup final - men's or women's. 

Healy, as usual, was dominant against both pace and spin. She used her feet well, ran well, and struck the ball well to play one of the best all-time ODI knocks. 

Apart from Healy, Rachael Haynes (68) and Beth Mooney (62) gave valuable contributions to lift the Australian total above the 350-run mark that proved too much for England to chase in a high-pressure game. 

Like batting, Australia had the upper hand in the bowling department as well. Megan Schutt began the proceedings, removing both the English openers. Heather Knight, Amy Jones, and Sophie Dunkley got starts but couldn't continue them as Alana King and Jess Jonassen wrecked the English middle order. 

Natalie Sciver was the lone fighter and she fought well. Sciver kept running out of partners and the asking run rate kept increasing. Sciver reached her century in the 34th over but things still weren't in her control. 

Sciver's only hope was with Charlotte Dean, with whom she added 65 runs in 53 balls but Ashleigh Gardner decided to wrap things up quickly. Jonassen got Anya Shrubsole out and Sciver was left stranded at the other end unbeaten on 148. 

Sciver's 148 will probably go down as one of the best ODI knocks in a losing cause, if only she had a team like Australia - dominating in all three departments since the semifinal heartbreak of 2017. 

Brief Scorecard: 

Australia - 356/5 
England - 285/10 in 43.4