Australian pacer Mitchell Starc decided to skip his side’s third and final ODI against South Africa to cheer for his wife, Alyssa Healy, who smashed a match-winning knock of 75 in just 39 deliveries in Australia Women’s 85-run win over India Women at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final.
The Australian men’s team, touring South Africa, had already lost the three-match ODI series, and Starc decided to skip the final game to be in Melbourne to cheer for his wife. For Healy, she made sure her husband’s decision was worth every penny as she went to thwart India by smashing the fastest fifty in a T20 World Cup final en route her 39-ball 75.
Alyssa Healy said recently all she ever wanted to do was bat like Ricky Ponting. She’s doing a fair impression of his WC2003 final innings here #T20WorldCupFinal
— Adam Burnett (@AdamBurnett09) March 8, 2020
Coincidently, Healy’s knock came at the exact venue where Mitchell Starc put on a scintillating performance against New Zealand in the 2015 Men’s World Cup final. The towering pacer dismissed Brendon McCullum in the first over with a brilliant yorker before showing Luke Ronchi his way back to the pavilion. The 30-year-old conceded just 20 runs in his eight overs and picked up two important wickets as Australia went on to win the final.
As for Sunday’s final, Healy and her opening partner, Beth Mooney gave Australia a brilliant start, stitching an opening partnership of 115 runs, which paved way for the rest of the batswomen to post 184/4 in 20 overs.
Australia continued their domination with the ball and bowled out the Indian team for a mere 99 runs before lifting their record fifth T20 World Cup title.
Starc's gesture, meanwhile, was applauded by everyone on Twitter:
A destructive innings from Alyssa Healy! She is making a statement here. She is also saying, push the boundaries back. Next stage in women's cricket. Mitchell Starc: 8-0-20-2 in 2015 WC final at MCG.
— Parth shah (@pns251092) March 8, 2020
Alyssa Healy: 75(39) in 2020 WC final at MCG.
Husband - Wife goals. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/ivEp0mXa0b
Sure thing !! God forbid it would be a guy from the subcontinent, the guy would be called a ‘joru ka ghulaam’ in one second 😅 good on you Mitchell 👍🏽 couple goals for sure!! #beentheredonethat 🤣 https://t.co/yl3ZlGFPkY
— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) March 7, 2020
Mitchell Starc skipped the third ODI & travelled from South Africa T0 Australia TO watch his Wife alyssa healy play ❤️
— SaNaaaaaa🇵🇰 (@SaNaaaaaa_____) March 8, 2020
AND ALYSSA HEALY
DIDN'T DISAPPOINT HER HUSBAND😍 pic.twitter.com/cclMSwcClK
Mitchel Starc & Alyssa Healy’s kid will be the greatest all-rounder ever. #INDvAUS #T20WorldCupFinal
— Shridhar V (@iimcomic) March 8, 2020
Imagining Alyssa Healy and Mitchell Starc chatting over their cornflakes.
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) March 8, 2020
"Oh hey, remember when you dominated a World Cup Final at the MCG, winning it for Australia before the opposition caught breath?"
"Yeah. Remember when you did too?"
"Yeah. More toast?"#T20WorldCup
Couple goals:
— MUFCR7 (@FffNeutral) March 8, 2020
Bowl like Mitchel Starc
&
Bat like Alyssa Healy
#T20WorldCupFinal #INDvAUS
Alyssa Healy & Mitchell Starc - Set the tone in a home WC final by dominating the first over #Couplegoals #WWT20
— Gaurav Sundararaman (@gaurav_sundar) March 8, 2020
