🔗 Share this article Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Faces One Final Mountain. Media Caption: Healy Leads Record Chase as The Aussies Beat India It's difficult for the Australian squad to set fresh records. The top summits have long been mastered. This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket. The remaining milestones, those for the peak baggers, are the only things left for a squad that has achieved everything. Healy's Hundred Helps Australia to Unprecedented Chase Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers It needed as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over five decades. It is hard for their batters to maintain a record if not provided the chance. In the end, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to create her newest gem. Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 successful years since. A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her bow and seven world titles have followed from 10 attempts across formats. The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the run of success. That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier. At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again. Whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort is debatable. Certain people claim the case for the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the test that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000. What is certain is this century was much more difficult to predict. The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this knock was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs. "If you've been watching me in the nets, it has been a disappointing period because it appeared I've had no rhythm completely," commented Healy. "Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive nature activate and you completely engage with the contest." Media Caption: 'Fantastic' Healy Makes 142 to Help Australia Complete Record Run Chase Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her key asset - and a priceless quality in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning. She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation. A single was taken off the opening delivery and from that point Healy was underway. "The possibility to take the field and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, kind of motivated me," stated Healy. She reached fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes. By the time she was removed Australia 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 pleased we have the belief to do that now," added Healy. "Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, should it happen, we are confident we can do it." That comment will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup want to hear. During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this victory following victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one point. Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure. During that phase they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at an important competition. So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury. But while she later admitted those fitness problems have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is likely to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as leader. Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.