🔗 Share this article The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge. Media Caption: Healy Guides Historic Pursuit as The Aussies Overcome India It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records. The highest peaks have been successfully scaled. This is the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and once went over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket. The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are the only things left for a team that has achieved everything. Healy's Ton Helps Australia to Record Chase Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers The fact it required until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the last half-century. It's difficult for their batsmen to possess a record if never given the opportunity. Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece. Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 successful years since. A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her debut and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats. The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the winning streak. That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier. At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fall short again. If this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort is debatable. Many contend the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000. What is certain is this century was considerably tougher to anticipate. The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs. "If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it's been a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing at all," said Healy. "Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive instincts activate and you simply focus on the competition." Media Caption: 'Brilliant' Healy Scores 142 to Assist Australia Complete Record Run Chase Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning. She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration. One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and after that the right-hander was in motion. "The possibility to go out there and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, kind of motivated me," said Healy. She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes. When she was removed Australia required another 66 at one run per ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion. "Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the confidence to accomplish that now," stated Healy further. "Ideally we won't need to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can succeed." That comment will be the last competing nations at this championship should hear. In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this victory succeeding success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage. Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed. During that phase they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at an important competition. Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated despite the injury. However although she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have postponed plans to retire, this World Cup is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as leader. Victory in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.