Sciver ton in vain as Healy hammers Australia to World Cup title

Nat Sciver's 148 not out came in vain as Alyssa Healy's stunning 170 from 138 balls powered Australia to World Cup glory with a 71-run victory over defending champions England earning them a seventh title.

Healy punished England for dropping her on 42 as she smashed her way to the highest score in either a men's or women's World Cup final, with her 26 boundaries propelling Australia to a formidable 356-5 after they were put into bat by Heather Knight at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

Sciver top-scored with a sparkling 121-ball knock in reply, hitting her second ton against Australia in this tournament having made 109 not out against them in the group stage, as England kept up with the rate while wickets tumbled at the other end.

A ninth-wicket stand of 65 with Charlie Dean (21) from 213-8 kept England's hopes of a remarkable victory alive but they were eventually dismissed for 285 in 43.4 overs - spinners Alana King (3-64) and Jess Jonassen (3-57) sharing six wickets.

Knight's team missed out on becoming the first England side to successfully defend the 50-over World Cup title, with Australia ending an immaculate campaign with a ninth win out of nine to become world champions in both white-ball forms having won the last two T20 World Cups, in 2018 and 2020.

England's hopes of retaining their title appeared in tatters after losing their first three games of the competition, including a 12-run defeat to Australia in their opening fixture.

But, on the brink of elimination, Knight's side launched a superb revival with five straight victories taking them into Sunday's showpiece against a juggernaut of an Australia side.

Australia were strong favourites ahead of the match, with their irresistible recent form including winning