Healy smashed 170 off just 138 deliveries to clinch the World Cup title for Australia, staving off a defiant counterattack from Nat Sciver, who also made a century
Heather Knight praised "one of the best innings I've seen in my life" from Alyssa Healy after the Australian opener made history in clinching the World Cup title for her side.
Healy hit 170 off just 138 deliveries, giving her the highest score in a global final, the highest score in ODIs by a wicketkeeper and the highest run tally in a single World Cup.
Although Nat Sciver responded with an unbeaten 148, an innings described by Knight as "unbelievable", England never found a partner who was able to stay with her for long enough to pile the pressure on Meg Lanning's team.
"Credit to Australia for bringing such a performance in the final," Knight added. "If we would have kept them just above 300, we would have been in with a chance. They were ruthless and take the game away from the opposition."
Despite England's final disappointment, their appearance in Christchurch at all was reward for a fine recovery after losing their first three group matches, and it marked the end of a long winter away, having been abroad since flying out for the Women's Ashes in early January.
"[I'm] massively proud of the group," said Knight, who singled out Sophie Ecclestone for a special mention, having ended the tournament as leading wicket-taker in her first 50-over World Cup.
Healy celebrates with husband Mitchell Starc (Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Lanning admitted that she had been nervous while Sciver was at the crease, at one stage putting on a 65-run stand for the ninth wicket with Charlie Dean. "She's an incredible player and it would have been a match-winning one on any other day," she said.
"I think we have been extremely consistent over a long period of time. It's been a long time coming. I think we deserved a victory today.
"We've had a number of young players coming in and contributing. Off the field we have had the support staff helping us to get this stage.
"Healy's knock was incredible. To do it in a World Cup final, I am not surprised, she's done it before as well. We've spoken about being patient at the start before exploding and that's what happened."
Healy added: "It's not sunk in yet. It was a special game of cricket, very high-scoring. It is something we have been working towards for a long period of time. To get over the line was pretty cool.
"It was nice to get out there and put up a good total on board. I'm proud of the batting group and the whole group. I think everyone has worked very hard for this. It has been a five-year wait for a title people said we would have had."
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