🔗 Share this article Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb. Media Caption: Healy Leads Record Chase as The Aussies Defeat India It's a challenge for Australia to set fresh records. The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled. This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket. The secondary achievements, targeted by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a team that has won it all. Healy's Century Aids Australia to Unprecedented Chase ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers That it took up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century. It is hard for their hitters to maintain a record if not provided the opportunity. Finally, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to deliver her most recent brilliance. Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 successful years since. Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her bow and seven global championships have resulted from 10 attempts across formats. The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the successful run. That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier. At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not come up short. If this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort remains open for discussion. Many contend the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000. What's definite is this century was much more difficult to see coming. The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30. "For those following me in training, it's been a disappointing period because it seemed I've had no rhythm at all," commented Healy. "But once you take the field, your fighting spirit activate and you just lock into the contest." Media Caption: 'Excellent' Healy Scores 142 to Assist Australia Complete Record Run Chase Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning. She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark. A single came off the opening delivery and after that the right-hander was in motion. "An opportunity to take the field and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, kind of motivated me," commented Healy. She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three sixes. When she was dismissed the team needed 66 more at one run per ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion. "To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the confidence to achieve that now," stated Healy further. "Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, should it happen, we believe we can succeed." These statements will be the last Australia's opponents at this World Cup want to hear. Over the past five days a belief they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this victory coming after success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one point. Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed. It was in the semi-finals they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at an important competition. Such is her determination, she later said she regretted not playing through the pain. Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have pushed back plans to retire, this tournament is expected to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a global event as skipper. Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.