Australia wicket-keeper batter Alyssa Healy was at her career-best form in the semi-final against the West Indies despite returning to the game after the concussion, as she claimed another Player of the Match award for her contribution in team’s win as they stormed into the 2018 World T20 final.
The right-hander smashed 46 from 38 deliveries and secured a crucial run-out to help Australia Women’s to register a heavy 71 runs win over West Indies in the semi-final on Thursday (November 22) in Antigua to set them to face England Women’s in the summit clash on November 24 (Saturday).
It was her fourth Player of the Match award in the five matches in the 2018 World T20 for her sizzling show in the ICC event, as Healy is the leading run-scorers with 203 runs from four innings at 67.66 at a strike rate of 149.26 in the tournament at the moment.
On Thursday, the way she played against the West Indies, it showed that the head knock hadn't done anything to impact her form in the tournament and the wicket-keeper thanked doctor Pip Inge and physio Kate Mahony for their support and efforts that she returned back to the field.
Healy suffered a mild concussion after colliding with pacer Megan Schutt during Australia's heavy 48-run defeat to India in their final group fixture of the ICC Women's World T20.
The horrifying incident happened in the 19th over when Healy’s head collided with teammate Schutt's shoulder while wicket-keeping in the first innings, as both had eyes for the ball while attempting to take a simple caught-and-bowled, resulting they collided mid-pitch which could end her World T20 campaign.
However, the in-form Healy returned to the game in Australia's semi-final clash against the West Indies, having passed every test –a five-day process that hinged on Healy suffering no recurrence of symptoms.
Healy told reporters after the match, “Even the last two training sessions coming out of the ball, I was seeing the ball fine and I hadn't really lost anything in my batting. I'll sit here and I'll say I think I was really, really lucky. I really didn't get many symptoms, concussion symptoms. I didn't have headaches. I didn't have anything. I simply had a sore neck from the whiplash after hitting Schutt's shoulder.”
She continued, “I was really lucky. And I had fantastic medical staff in Kate and Pip looking after me and making sure I was making smart decisions about what I was doing. And I think personally I did all the right things as well to give my mind a break and let it refresh and replenish and go today.”
Healy signed off by saying, “I've had glasses for the last six months now (but) haven't worn them on the cricket field. And the way my gloves have been going of late, I thought why not, can't get any worse. I thought I'd take them out there. And they worked a treat. You might see me in them again.”
(With cricket.com.au Inputs)
