🔗 Share this article Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain. Video Description: Healy Guides Historic Pursuit as Australia Defeat India It's difficult for Australia to break new ground. The greatest achievements have already been conquered. This is the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket. The alternative records, the ones sought by the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has won it all. Healy's Ton Helps Australia to Historic Pursuit Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers It needed until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century. It is hard for their hitters to possess a record if not afforded the opportunity. Ultimately, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to create her latest masterpiece. Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since. A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have resulted from 10 attempts across formats. The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the run of success. That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week. At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not come up short. If this latest epic knock topped that previous effort remains open for discussion. Some will argue the case for final game tension. Some might respond with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000. What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to see coming. The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this knock came after six matches 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 challenging time because it seemed I've had no rhythm completely," commented Healy. "But once you step out on the field, your competitive nature kick in and you just lock into the match." Media Caption: 'Brilliant' Healy Scores 142 to Help Australia Accomplish Unprecedented Chase Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning. She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's motivation. A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from there Healy was underway. "A chance to play and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, sort of got me going," stated Healy. She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three maximums. By the time she was removed Australia needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish. "Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the confidence to accomplish that now," stated Healy further. "Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if we do, we know we can do it." Those words will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this tournament should hear. Over the past five days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph coming after success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment. Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed. During that phase they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at an important competition. So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated with the discomfort. However although she later admitted those fitness problems have pushed back plans to retire, this tournament is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as captain. Victory in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.