🔗 Share this article Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain. Video Description: Healy Guides Historic Pursuit as The Aussies Defeat India It's a challenge for the Australian squad to set fresh records. The top summits have already been conquered. We're talking about the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket. The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are all that remain for a side that has achieved everything. Healy's Ton Aids Australia to Unprecedented Chase Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers That it took until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years. It is hard for their batters to hold a record if not afforded the opportunity. Ultimately, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to deliver her newest gem. Originally famous as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since. Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her debut and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 tries across formats. The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the winning streak. That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier. At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fail again. If this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement can be debated. Some will argue the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000. What is certain is this hundred was much more difficult to see coming. The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this knock was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs. "For those following me in the nets, it has been a disappointing period because I feel like my form was missing completely," said Healy. "But once you take the field, your competitive instincts take over and you simply focus on the contest." Video Description: 'Brilliant' Healy Makes 142 to Aid Australia Accomplish Unprecedented Chase Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her great strength - and a priceless quality in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning. She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration. One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from that point Healy was in motion. "An opportunity to go out there and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun that way, sort of got me going," said Healy. She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three maximums. Once she was dismissed Australia needed 66 more at one run per ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish. "Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the confidence to do that now," stated Healy further. "Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, should it happen, we believe we can succeed." Those words will be the last competing nations at this World Cup need to hear. In recent days a sense they will win from any position has only strengthened - this victory following success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment. Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure. It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a significant event. So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wished she had played despite the injury. But while she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have postponed thoughts of retirement, this tournament is expected to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as captain. Success in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.