🔗 Share this article Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Faces One Final Mountain. Media Caption: Healy Leads Record Chase as The Aussies Defeat India It's tough for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats. The highest peaks have long been mastered. We're talking about the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and once went nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket. The alternative records, targeted by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a team that has won it all. Healy's Century Assists Australia to Record Chase Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers It needed up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades. It's difficult for their batters to maintain a record if not provided the chance. In the end, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to deliver her latest masterpiece. Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since. A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have come from 10 attempts across formats. The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the successful run. That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently. At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fall short again. If this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement is debatable. Some will argue the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Others can counter with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000. What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to see coming. The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this knock followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs. "If you've observed me in training, it's been a frustrating experience because I feel like I lacked timing whatsoever," stated Healy. "However when you step out on the field, your fighting spirit activate and you simply focus on the competition." Video Description: 'Excellent' Healy Scores 142 to Assist Australia Accomplish Unprecedented Chase Healy's competitive nature has always been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning. She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation. A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the batsman was underway. "A chance to go out there and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, somewhat inspired me," said Healy. She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits. By the time she was removed her side required another 66 at one run per ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion. "To chase 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the assurance to accomplish that now," stated Healy further. "Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we believe we can achieve it." Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this tournament should hear. In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this success succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at a certain moment. Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed. It was at that stage they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at a major tournament. Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated despite the injury. However although she later admitted those fitness problems have postponed thoughts of retirement, this championship is likely to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as skipper. Victory in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.