Australia Crowned World Champions beating England by 71 Runs in Final

On Sunday, in the final of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, England were chasing 357 in 50 overs against Australia at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes break 25 Year Old Record by Debbie Hockley. PC: ICC/ getty images

England did not get off to the best of starts as they lost their opening batter Danielle Wyatt (4 runs off 5 balls), who was a centurion in the semi-final against South Africa, cheaply in the third over. The other opener in Tammy Beaumont (27 runs off 26 balls) and captain Heather Knight (26 runs off 25 balls) started off well however they could not capitalize on their starts. Wicket-keeper Amy Jones (20 runs off 18 balls) and middle order batter Sophia Dunkley (22 runs off 22 balls) too played their parts but failed to contribute big in the daunting run chase of 357. Towards the end, Charlotte Dean (21 runs off 24 balls) showed some fight but it was too tall a task for England. England’s vice-captain Natalie Sciver was the lone warrior in the fight as she put in her blood and sweat to take her team home. Sciver muscled a power-packed 148 not out off 121 balls, including 15 boundaries and a six, to give England some hope. However, she kept losing partners at regular intervals which did not help the cause. In the end, England were bundled out for 285 in 43.4 overs, losing the match by 71 runs.

Australia Crowned World Champions beating England by 71 Runs in Final. PC: ICC/Getty Images

For Australia, the spin twins in Alana King and Jess Jonassen were the top performers with the ball as the duo scalped 3-64 and 3-58 respectively. They spun a web around the English batters and caught them in their trap. Apart from King and Jonassen, Megan Schutt, Tahlia McGrath and Ashleigh Gardner were the other wicket-takers. Schutt picked up 2-42, McGrath grabbed 1-46 and Gardner chipped in with 1-15. Darcie Brown was the only bowler among the six bowlers used by Australia who went wicket-less. Australia had a great day on the field, except for that one dropped catch of Dunkley. They otherwise fielded well and held on to their catches.

🇦🇺AUS won #CWC22 by 71 runs ✨

• AUSTRALIA: 356/5 (50)

Alyssa Healy: 170 (138)
Rachael Haynes: 68 (93)
Anya Shrubsole: 3/46 (10)

• ENGLAND: 285/10 (43.4)

Nat Sciver: 148* (121)
Alana King: 3/64 (10)
Jess Jonassen: 3/58 (8.4)#AUSvENG #ENGvAUS pic.twitter.com/PIiOgwSEVZ

— Female Cricket #CWC22 (@imfemalecricket) April 3, 2022

Australia’s Alyssa Healy won the player of the match for her match-winning batting performance. The right-handed opening batter muscled 170 runs off 138 balls to help Australia pile up 5-356 in 50 overs. The swashbuckling right-handed opening batter also won the player of the tournament for her 509 runs in nine matches, including two centuries and as many half-centuries.