Alyssa Healy narrowly missed out on reaching her first Test century during the Only Test against Laura Wolvaardt’s South Africa at the WACA in Perth. Batting at No.5, captain Healy compiled a resilient innings of 99 runs off 124 deliveries, featuring 16 boundaries in the first innings on Thursday.
Her hopes of reaching the coveted milestone were dashed when off-spinner Delmi Tucker dismissed her. Attempting to guide the ball down to long on, Healy instead managed a leading edge, resulting in Tucker taking a straightforward catch off her own bowling. Healy’s 99-run knock places her in the “99 club” alongside her husband, Mitchell Starc, who also has a highest Test score of 99.
Speaking on the same Healy had the most hilarious revelation on her conversation with Starc on joining her husband in the 99 club.
“I think he said ‘if there’s anything that I can remotely relate to in our cricketing careers, it was yesterday’, so I guess that didn’t help me one bit.” said Healy.
Alyssa Healy puts Australia in advantage in AUSW vs SAW Day 1:
Despite falling short of a century, Healy’s innings ensured that Australia ended Day 1 with an advantage in the Test match, leading by 175 runs with five wickets remaining in their first innings. Earlier in the day, the hosts bowled out the Proteas Women for just 76 runs in 31.2 overs after opting to field first. Although Australia found themselves in early trouble at 12 for 3, Healy and Beth Mooney’s remarkable 155-run partnership helped them recover.
She becomes only the 27th Australian and the fourth Australian woman to be dismissed on 99 in Women’s Tests, joining Jess Jonassen, Jill Kennare, and Ellyse Perry. Throughout her nine-Test career, Healy has accumulated 455 runs at an average of 30.33, including three half-centuries, while Starc boasts 2044 runs with ten half-centuries to his credit.
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