Australian women’s cricket team wicketkeeper and batter Alyssa Healy shone in the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 with a match-winning 170-run knock which guided her team to their 7th title on April 3 (Sunday) in Christchurh.
Speaking after the spectacular win, she said she has seen it all in her career now as Australia has learnt how to play and win big tournaments and make most of the big events.
“I’m 32 and I’ve seen it all. Our team sets out to win events like these and everyone is sort of keen to get out there and do just that, grateful for the opportunity,” said Healy, who was named player of the final as well player of the tournament.
“You probably couldn’t have asked for anything more. Proud of the batting unit. We have done some amazing things this whole tournament, so to be able to do it one more time on the biggest stage was impressive,” Healy said after the title win.
For Healy, the manner of triumph was beyond her imagination.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I ever thought I’d do something like that so it is pretty cool.”
During her epic knock, Healy also became the player with most runs in a single edition of a World Cup. She not only went past New Zealand great Debbie Hockley’s 25-year-old record, but also became the first woman cricketer to score 500 or more runs in a single edition of the tournament.
Hockley had scored 456 runs in the 1997 World Cup in India. But Healy and her opening partner Rachael Haynes went past Hockley on Sunday, scoring 509 and 497 runs respectively in this edition.
“We knew the first 10 overs was going to be the most challenging part of the game and we got two world class bowlers swinging the ball.
“We just knew we had to hold our nerve. I enjoy batting with Rach (Rachael Haynes) and it’s what we set out to do and we ticked that box.”
She said Haynes should have won the player of the tournament award for her consistency.
“No way (on two fifties and two hundreds). I shouldn’t have received this award but Rach should have because I just turned up for the last two games.”
Healy, who was dropped on 41, also set the record of the highest-ever individual score in a World Cup final across men’s and women’s cricket. Adam Gilchrist (149, 2007), Sciver (148 in this game), Ricky Ponting (140, 2003) and Viv Richards (138, 1979) are behind Healy in the elite list.
“I think everyone has worked very hard for this. It has been a five-year wait for a title people said we would have had. Will reflect on the three months that we have had,” said Healy who was also a member of the Australia squad in the 2017 edition.