Alyssa Healy's sparkling century leads Australia to World Cup win over England

The brilliance of Alyssa Healy inspired Australia to a seventh Women's Cricket World Cup as they beat England by 71 runs in Christchurch.

Healy backed up her semi final century against the West Indies by hammering 170 off 138 balls, including 26 fours, leading her side to a record final total of 356-5 from 50 overs. It left England ruing dropping the opener on 42, and more so skipper Heather Knight's decision to bat first upon winning the toss.

In reply, England mustered 285 all out in reply as Alana Smith and Jess Jonassen took three wickets each, with Nat Sciver's sublime unbeaten 148 in vain. But there could be little argument about the rightful winners as Aussie skipper Meg Lanning and her side celebrated afterwards, their display cementing a dominant five-week spell which saw them win all seven group matches to reach the last four.

Healy and Rachael Haynes were steady early on, reaching 37-0 off 10 overs as Sophia Dunkley and Sophie Ecclestone took the new ball. Ecclestone in particular bowled tightly, going for just 12 off her first five overs.

Bu then the two openers pressed the accelerator, and when on 68-0 Knight opted for a questionable review following an LBW appeal against Healy, it hinted at desperation. That desperation turned to frustration in the 21st over when both batters were dropped off Kate Cross - a diving Danni Wyatt putting down Haynes, before Nat Scriver mistimed her jump at mid-off and let Healy off the hook.

With the score on 160, a breakthrough finally came in the 30th over when Haynes, having hit seven fours in her 68, got a leading edge as she charged at Ecclestone and Beaumont clung on to the catch. But Healy was undeterred, passing 500 World Cup runs before reaching her ton off exactly 100