India Women and Australia Women contested a thrilling encounter in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 at Visakhapatnam, with Australia chasing down a record target of 331 to win by three wickets with an over to spare. The highest successful chase in women’s ODI history was powered by Alyssa Healy’s scintillating 142 off 107 balls, while India posted a strong total of 330 for 10, thanks to a formidable opening partnership of 155 between Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal.
Batting first, India struggled early but were boosted by their opening duo Mandhana and Rawal. Mandhana played a fiery 80 from 66 balls with nine fours and three sixes, while Rawal supported well with 75 off 96 deliveries. Their century stand was the tournament’s first for an opening pair, laying a solid foundation. Middle order contributions came from Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Harleen Deol, and Harmanpreet Kaur, ensuring India crossed the 300-run mark.
Despite the strong platform, India’s innings faltered in the last 15 overs, losing wickets in clusters. Annabel Sutherland was instrumental for Australia with the ball, claiming 5 wickets for 40 runs, supported by Sophie Molineux and Ashleigh Gardner. The Indian batting collapse under pressure meant Australia had a tangible target but still a challenging chase of 331 to achieve.
Australia’s chase was anchored superbly by Alyssa Healy, whose aggressive yet calculated innings included 21 fours and 3 sixes, earning her a well-deserved player of the match. Healy’s partnership with Phoebe Litchfield and later Ellyse Perry kept Australia ahead of the required run rate. Perry retired hurt temporarily with cramp yet returned to guide Australia home.
Support from Ashleigh Gardner, who scored 45, helped maintain momentum along with the composure of Ellyse Perry who contributed an unbeaten 47. Amanjot Kaur and Deepti Sharma struck late breakthroughs, but Australia’s depth and resilience ensured they crossed the line with one over remaining, scripting history with the highest successful chase in the format.
India experienced records and milestones despite the loss. Smriti Mandhana became the first woman to score 1000 runs in a calendar year in ODIs and set the record for most 50-plus scores for India against Australia in women’s ODIs. India’s 330 was their highest ever World Cup total, breaking the previous 317.
The victory marked Australia’s third consecutive win in the World Cup, maintaining dominance as defending champions, while India faces their second successive defeat. The match showcased exceptional batting skills, intense bowling spells, and strategic gameplay, thrilling fans with one of the most memorable games in recent women’s World Cup history.
This high-octane clash at the ACA-VDCA stadium will be remembered for the battling spirit, record-breaking performances, and a record chase under pressure, encapsulating the growing competitiveness and excitement in women’s ODI cricket today.
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