🔗 Share this article Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain. Media Caption: Healy Guides Historic Pursuit as The Aussies Beat India It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats. The greatest achievements have long been mastered. This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and once went nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket. The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are all that remain for a side that has accomplished all there is. Healy's Ton Helps Australia to Historic Pursuit Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers The fact it required until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century. It's challenging for their batsmen to maintain a record if not provided the chance. Finally, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her latest masterpiece. Originally famous as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 successful years since. A T20 World Cup win came three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have resulted from 10 tries across formats. The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the successful run. That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently. 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 fall short again. If this latest epic knock topped that previous effort can be debated. Many contend the case for the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000. What's definite is this century was far harder to predict. The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this performance was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs. "If you've observed me in training, it's been a challenging time because it seemed my form was missing completely," commented Healy. "But once you take the field, your competitive nature activate and you just lock into the competition." Video Description: 'Excellent' Healy Makes 142 to Aid Australia Complete Record Run Chase Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning. She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark. A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the right-hander was in motion. "A chance to play and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy. She reached fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three big hits. Once she was dismissed her side needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll. "Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the assurance to do that now," continued Healy. "Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if we do, we are confident we can achieve it." Those words will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this World Cup need to hear. In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this victory following win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage. Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed. During that phase they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at a major tournament. So great is her will, she later said she wished she had played despite the injury. Yet even as she later admitted those fitness problems have delayed plans to retire, this World Cup is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as skipper. Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.