🔗 Share this article Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge. Video Description: Healy Leads Record Chase as The Aussies Overcome India It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground. The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled. We're talking about the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket. The alternative records, those for the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a team that has won it all. Healy's Century Aids Australia to Record Chase Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers That it took until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the last half-century. It's challenging for their batsmen to hold a record if not afforded the opportunity. Ultimately, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to deliver her latest masterpiece. Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since. Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have come from 10 tries across formats. The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the winning streak. That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week. At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not come up short. Whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort remains open for discussion. Certain people claim the argument supporting final game tension. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000. What's definite is this hundred was considerably tougher to anticipate. The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs. "If you've observed me in the nets, it has been a frustrating experience because I feel like I lacked timing at all," commented Healy. "However when you take the field, your competitive nature activate and you completely engage with the contest." Media Caption: 'Brilliant' Healy Hits 142 to Assist Australia Achieve Historic Pursuit Healy's competitive nature has always been her great strength - and a priceless quality in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning. She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration. A single came off the opening delivery and after that the batsman was on her way. "A chance to go out there and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun that way, kind of motivated me," commented Healy. She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three big hits. Once she was removed Australia needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish. "Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the belief to do that now," stated Healy further. "Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if we do, we know we can achieve it." Those words will be the last rival teams at this championship need to hear. In recent days a belief they will win from any position has only strengthened - this victory succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one point. Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed. During that phase they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at an important competition. So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated with the discomfort. Yet even as she afterwards confessed those injuries have postponed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as skipper. Success in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.