🔗 Share this article The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Faces One Final Mountain. Media Caption: Healy Guides Historic Pursuit as The Aussies Defeat India It's tough for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats. The top summits have been successfully scaled. This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and once went over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket. The remaining milestones, targeted by the record chasers, are what's still available for a team that has achieved everything. Healy's Ton Aids Australia to Record Chase ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers The fact it required until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades. It is hard for their hitters to maintain a record if never given the possibility. Finally, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to produce her newest gem. Then best known as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since. Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have followed from 10 attempts across formats. The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted 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 named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not come up short. Whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement can be debated. Certain people claim the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000. What is certain is this century was much more difficult to predict. 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 not exceeded 30 runs. "If you've been watching me in training, it has been a frustrating experience because it seemed I've had no rhythm completely," said Healy. "Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive nature kick in and you just lock into the contest." Media Caption: 'Fantastic' Healy Hits 142 to Help Australia Complete Record Run Chase Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her great strength - and a priceless quality in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning. She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration. A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from there the right-hander was in motion. "The possibility to play and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy. She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes. When she was removed the team needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion. "Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the belief to achieve that now," stated Healy further. "Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if we do, we believe we can achieve it." These statements will be the final thing competing nations at this World Cup should hear. Over the past five days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at a certain moment. Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed. It was at that stage they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at a major tournament. So strong is her resolve, she later said she regretted not playing with the discomfort. However although she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this championship is expected to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as skipper. Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.