Visakhapatnam: In a thrilling encounter at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Australia defeated India by three wickets in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, chasing down a record total of 331 runs. The victory was powered by captain Alyssa Healy’s sensational 142, her first ODI century since 2022 and sixth overall, achieved in just 84 balls.
Despite India setting a formidable target of 330 after opting to bat first, the home side faltered in the final overs, losing six wickets for 36 runs in the last seven overs, allowing Australia to complete the chase in 49 overs with one over to spare.
Healy’s masterclass leads Australia
Alyssa Healy’s innings was a blend of aggression and precision, featuring powerful shots and calculated placement. Her knock set the platform for Australia’s historic chase, marking the highest target ever successfully chased in women’s ODI history.
The innings ended at 142 off 107 balls when Sneh Rana pulled off a stunning one-handed catch at backward point, offering India a glimmer of hope. However, Ellyse Perry, who had retired hurt earlier, returned to guide her team with an unbeaten 47, ensuring Australia crossed the line comfortably.
Smriti Mandhana’s record-setting feat for India
Earlier, India’s innings was bolstered by vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, who became the first woman in ODI history to score 1,000 runs in a calendar year. Mandhana’s performance helped India post a competitive total of 330.
However, India’s lower-order collapse proved costly. Annabel Sutherland starred with the ball for Australia, taking 5/40 in 9.5 overs, while Sophie Molineux supported with 3/75, exploiting India’s late-order vulnerabilities.
Impact on the points table
With this win, Australia moved to the top of the points table with 7 points from 4 matches, while India remains in third place with 4 points, maintaining a healthy net run rate of +0.677, keeping them in strong contention for the semifinals.
The current points table standings are:
| Position | Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | No Result | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | +1.353 |
| 2 | England | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | +1.864 |
| 3 | India | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +0.677 |
| 4 | South Africa | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -0.888 |
| 5 | New Zealand | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -0.245 |
| 6 | Bangladesh | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -0.357 |
| 7 | Sri Lanka | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1.515 |
| 8 | Pakistan | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.887 |
India’s road to the semifinals
India still has three group-stage matches remaining: against England (Oct 19), New Zealand (Oct 23), and Bangladesh (Oct 26). To secure a semifinal spot, India must win all three games and hope that South Africa or New Zealand lose at least one match.
Maintaining a strong net run rate will also be crucial if points are tied at the end of the group stage. The clash against New Zealand is shaping up as a potential quarter-final decider, highlighting the importance of every run and wicket in the remaining fixtures.
Conclusion
While India showcased brilliant batting performances, including Mandhana’s record-breaking year, the team’s late collapse and Australia’s clinical chase meant a narrow defeat. The tournament remains competitive, with India needing strong performances in the remaining matches to advance to the semifinals, while Australia’s dominant win underlined their status as favourites in the 2025 Women’s World Cup.