🔗 Share this article Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge. Media Caption: Healy Leads Record Chase as The Aussies Beat India It's a challenge for the Australian squad to break new ground. The top summits have long been mastered. This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and once went nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket. The remaining milestones, targeted by the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has won it all. Healy's Century Assists Australia to Record Chase ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers That it took until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years. It's challenging for their hitters to possess a record if not provided the chance. In the end, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to produce her latest masterpiece. Then best known as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 successful years since. A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her debut and seven international trophies 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 briefly halted the successful run. That loss "drove 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 championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fall short again. The question of whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement is debatable. Some will argue the case for final game tension. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000. What's definite is this hundred was considerably tougher to predict. The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs. "For those following me in the nets, it has been a disappointing period because I feel like I've had no rhythm completely," stated Healy. "However when you step out on the field, your competitive nature take over and you just lock into the competition." Media Caption: 'Fantastic' Healy Scores 142 to Assist Australia Achieve Historic Pursuit Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning. She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's spark. A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and after that Healy was on her way. "A chance to play and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy. She reached fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three big hits. Once she was out the team required another 66 at one run per ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish. "Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the confidence to accomplish that now," stated Healy further. "Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we believe we can achieve it." That comment will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this tournament want to hear. Over the past five days a sense they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this success following win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage. Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed. During that phase they left last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at an important competition. So strong is her resolve, she later said she regretted not playing through the pain. However although she later admitted those injuries have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as leader. Success in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.