🔗 Share this article Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb. Media Caption: Healy Guides Historic Pursuit as The Aussies Beat India It's a challenge for the Australian squad to break new ground. The highest peaks have long been mastered. This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket. The alternative records, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a squad that has accomplished all there is. Healy's Hundred Aids Australia to Unprecedented Chase Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers It needed as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the last half-century. It's challenging for their batters to possess a record if never given the possibility. In the end, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to produce her latest masterpiece. Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 successful years since. A T20 championship victory came three months after her bow and seven international trophies have followed from 10 efforts across formats. The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the run of success. That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week. At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not fail again. Whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion. Some will argue the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000. What's definite is this ton was far harder to anticipate. The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this knock was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30. "If you've been watching me in the nets, it was a disappointing period because I feel like my form was missing at all," commented Healy. "But once you take the field, your competitive instincts take over and you simply focus on the match." Media Caption: 'Fantastic' Healy Makes 142 to Help Australia Achieve Historic Pursuit Healy's competitive nature has always been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning. She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark. A single was taken off the opening delivery and after that Healy was on her way. "An opportunity to go out there and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," said Healy. She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three sixes. By the time she was removed Australia needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll. "Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the belief to do that now," stated Healy further. "Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we know we can do it." Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this championship want to hear. During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this victory following victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage. Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed. It was at that stage they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at an important competition. So strong is her resolve, she later said she wanted to have participated with the discomfort. Yet even as she afterwards confessed those injuries have postponed thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is likely to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as leader. Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.