🔗 Share this article Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb. Media Caption: Healy Guides Historic Pursuit as The Aussies Beat India It's difficult for the Australian squad to set fresh records. The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled. We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket. The secondary achievements, those for the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a team that has achieved everything. Healy's Ton Helps Australia to Unprecedented Chase Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers It needed up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century. It's challenging for their hitters to hold a record if not provided the possibility. Finally, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a chance to deliver her latest masterpiece. Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since. A T20 championship victory came three months after her debut and seven international trophies have followed from 10 efforts across formats. The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the run of success. That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier. At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not come up short. Whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display can be debated. Many contend the case for championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000. What's definite is this ton was far harder to see coming. The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this performance came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30. "For those following me in practice sessions, it's been a challenging time because it seemed I've had no rhythm at all," said Healy. "Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts activate and you just lock into the contest." Media Caption: 'Excellent' Healy Scores 142 to Aid Australia Achieve Historic Pursuit Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning. She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation. One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from there Healy was underway. "A chance to play and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy. She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three maximums. Once she was dismissed Australia needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion. "To chase 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the belief to do that now," added Healy. "Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if necessary, we know we can succeed." That comment will be the final thing rival teams at this tournament want to hear. During the last week a sense they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this victory coming after success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one point. Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure. It was at that stage they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a significant event. Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wished she had played despite the injury. However although she afterwards confessed those injuries have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this tournament is expected to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as leader. Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.