AUSTRALIA reaffirmed their reputation as the best women's cricket team on the planet with a memorable 85-run triumph against India in the T20 World Cup final at a jubilant MCG on Sunday night.
A record crowd of 86,174 provided a sensational atmosphere as Australia blasted an imposing 184-4, thanks largely to a magnificent opening stand from Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney.
Healy set the tone when she smashed the first ball of the match, delivered by spinner Deepti Sharma, down the ground for four.
The wicket-keeper brought up the 12th half-century of her international T20 career off only 30 balls, and hit a further 25 runs from the next eight balls, before she mistimed and was caught at long-on off the bowling of Poonam Yadav.
Her 75 included five sixes and seven fours, and she shared a 115-run opening stand with left-hander Mooney. It was Healy's third half-century of the tournament, after scoring 51 in the opening group game against India and 83 against Bangladesh.
She was replaced at the crease by skipper Meg Lanning (16), who made her intentions clear with a boundary first ball.
Mooney finished 78 not out from 54 balls, with 10 fours.
Sharma was the best of India's bowlers, with 2-38 from her four overs.
India's teenage prodiigy Shafalia Verma started brightly, hitting Megan Schutt back over her head for two first ball, but edged the third ball of the innings and Healy, standing over the stumps, took a classy catch.
There was more drama for India soon after when No.3 Taniya Bhatia, attempting to sweep spinner Jess Jonassen, was hit on the helmet and retired hurt. In the same over, Jemina Rodrigues holed out to mid-on for a duck and India were effectively 3-8.
Bhatia was subsequently ruled out with concussion and replaced by substitute Richa Ghosh.
Australia kept the pressure on and by the halfway point in their innings, India were 4-51, needing 134 runs from their remaining 60 balls.
India were bowled out for 99 in the last over of their innings. Schutt finished with 4-18.
The Australians' dominance was even more remarkable considering champion all-rounder Ellyse Perry missed the match through injury.
Perry will have surgery on her torn hamstring and miss up to six months of cricket.
Not only did the superstar have to deal with missing Sunday's World Cup final, but she's unlikely to play again until late this year.
The 29-year-old bravely lined up in Australia's final group game against New Zealand on Monday despite carrying a hip injury.
While attempting a diving throw in the field against the White Ferns at the Junction Oval, Perry tore her hamstring off the bone.
She remained with the Australian team as they prepared to face India in the decider and will have surgery next week.
"I've had the most incredible run. I've been very fortunate with injury for a long period of time," a philosophical Perry said.
"First and foremost, the final is the most-important thing and what it presents for the group and for the sport.
"On a personal note, it's a challenge, but I'm sort of looking forward to it in a roundabout way.
"I wish it wasn't the case but, at the same time, I'm sure there's lots of things I can take from it and learn from it as well."
Up until Thursday's thrilling semi-final win against South Africa, Perry had played in every T20 World Cup game for Australia since the first edition of the tournament in 2009.
Perry and fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck, ruled out with injury before the World Cup, have been in the thoughts of teammates.
When training on Saturday at the MCG, the Australian squad had Perry and Vlaeminck's names and numbers printed on their tops.
