🔗 Share this article Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge. Video Description: Healy Leads Record Chase as Australia Beat India It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground. The greatest achievements have already been conquered. This is the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket. The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has won it all. Healy's Hundred Aids Australia to Historic Pursuit ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers It needed until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years. It's challenging for their batsmen to possess a record if never given the opportunity. In the end, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to deliver her most recent brilliance. Then best known as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since. Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her debut and seven global championships have come from 10 tries across formats. The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the winning streak. That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier. At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not fall short again. If this latest epic knock topped that previous effort can be debated. Certain people claim the argument supporting final game tension. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000. What's clear is this hundred was considerably tougher to see coming. The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this innings was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs. "If you've observed me in the nets, it was a challenging time because I feel like I lacked timing completely," said Healy. "But once you step out on the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you simply focus on the contest." Media Caption: 'Excellent' Healy Hits 142 to Assist Australia Achieve Historic Pursuit Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning. She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark. A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from there the batsman was on her way. "A chance to go out there and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy. She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes. By the time she was out the team needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish. "Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the assurance to do that now," continued Healy. "Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, if necessary, we are confident we can do it." Those words will be the last Australia's opponents at this tournament want to hear. During the last week a belief they will win from any position has grown stronger - this victory following win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at a certain moment. Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed. It was at that stage they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at an important competition. Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing despite the injury. Yet even as she later admitted those fitness problems have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this championship is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as captain. Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.