Healy’s match-winning knock a reminder of growth

Alyssa Healy's match-winning 72 at Bay Oval on Tuesday was not the first time the star Australian had hit a World Cup fifty against Pakistan, but the circumstances could hardly have been different.

When Healy hit that unbeaten 63 from 40 deliveries in Leicester in 2017, it came batting as a finisher at No.7 and was just her second ODI half-century from 38 innings.

It was one of the numerous glimpses Healy had given of her powerful potential with the bat throughout her seven-year international career to that point, without ever consistently delivering on it as she was shuffled up and down the order.

It was after Australia's shock semi-final exit later that tournament that Healy was elevated to opener, kickstarting a remarkable run that has transformed the right-hander into one of the world's most dominant players.

In 35 innings since that World Cup, Healy has passed fifty on 15 occasions, and is Australia's leading run scorer across that period by a margin of 343 runs.

And after a lean run coming into this current tournament, which saw the 31-year-old score 98 runs at 16 during the multi-format Ashes, Healy is desperate to make her mark over the next month in New Zealand.

"It's been really enjoyable, the last five years of my ODI career in particular, and I really wanted to come into this this World Cup and really make an impact and get our side into a winning position more often than not," Healy said after Tuesday's win over Pakistan.

"Rachel Haynes did it the other night and we back our top order to be able to do that.

"I didn't feel comfortable at any point today so I guess that's a positive for me leading into the rest of the tournament (knowing) I can back myself to make those scratchy runs and hopefully when things get going, I can get some real flow about my batting and bat like I know I can."

Vice-captain Rachael Haynes had noted leading into this tournament that Australia's top six had a point to prove after never fully firing during the Ashes.

But their two outings to date have been a masterclass; in Hamilton against England they piled on 3-310, Australia's second highest total ever in a women's World Cup, while they chased their target of 191 against Pakistan with 15.2 overs to spare.

"The beauty of it is we can't all be firing it at one point in time, but we back ourselves to pick up where someone left off," Healy said.

"The other day I felt like I was hitting the ball really well early and then Rach (Haynes) picked up the slack after (I went out), and Meg (Lanning) came in and took the pressure off Rach, who went on to make 130.

"I think that's just the beauty of our line-up, we take the pressure off one another and it's a really strong top six.

"Then you throw in who we've got coming in after that, and it's a really explosive middle and low order.

"It is our strength and we back our bowling attack to be able to defend whatever our batting group can get."

The Australian squad will travel to Wellington on Wednesday, where they will begin preparing for Sunday's crucial match against hosts New Zealand.

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington. Travelling reserves: Heather Graham, Georgia Redmayne

Australia's World Cup 2022 fixtures

Mar 5: Australia def England by 12 runs

Mar 8: Australia def Pakistan by 7 wickets

Mar 13: v New Zealand, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 15: v West Indies, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 19: v India, Eden Park, Auckland, 12pm AEDT

Mar 22: v South Africa, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 25: v Bangladesh, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL WORLD CUP SCHEDULE

Semi-finals

Mar 30: Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 31: Hagley Park Christchurch, 12pm AEDT

Final

Apr 3: Hagley Park Christchurch, 11am AEDT

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports