Three-wicket haul from Brown and solid contributions with the bat from Healy, Haynes and Mooney play their part in subduing spirited India

Australia Women280 for 4 (Lanning 97, Healy 72, Haynes 43, Mooney 30*, Vastrakar 2-43) beat India Women 277 for 7 (Raj 68, Bhatia 59, Harmanpreet 57*, Vastrakar 34, Brown 3-30, King 2-52) by six wickets

When you are 121 for no loss inside 19 overs chasing 278, the pursuit of the highest successful chase in an ODI World Cup doesn’t feel too daunting. When you are Australia, undefeated and title favourites with an unmatched batting depth, it’s almost inevitable, a matter of when, not if.

Healy and Haynes punished anything wide or wayward, running hard between the wickets even when the flow of fours remained quick and steady. In all, they pinched 33 singles, seven twos, four threes, and struck 14 fours in their century stand as Healy played the aggressor with her 65-ball 72, equalling her highest score of this World Cup.

It didn’t help that India’s attack showed little adaptability with their lengths or lines, with Australia galloping to 69 in the powerplay. That India were one bowler short – Deepti Sharma was left out in favour of Shafali Verma – also hurt them on a ground with short boundaries and batting-friendly conditions.

On the way to her highest score in this World Cup, Lanning put the cut to especially good use. Before Saturday, the shot had cost Lanning her wicket four times in as many innings, for just 25 runs off 22 balls. Against India, it brought her 46 runs in 29 balls.

Lanning and Perry took Australia past 200 with ease before the expected rain made an appearance after the 41st over. At the time, Australia were 225 for 2, well ahead of the DLS target of 197. The game paused for 22 minutes. It didn’t help Perry, who perished immediately after the restart for 28.

Full report to follow…