🔗 Share this article The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge. Video Description: Healy Leads Record Chase as Australia Beat India It's a challenge for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats. The highest peaks have long been mastered. This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket. The secondary achievements, those for the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a squad that has achieved everything. Healy's Century Helps Australia to Record Chase Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers The fact it required as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century. It's difficult for their batsmen to possess a record if never given the opportunity. Finally, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to create her newest gem. Initially recognized as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since. A T20 World Cup win came three months after her bow and seven world titles have come from 10 tries 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 "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently. At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fail again. The question of whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display can be debated. Many contend the reasoning behind championship match pressure. 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 considerably tougher to predict. The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, 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 the nets, it's been a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing whatsoever," stated Healy. "But once you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit activate and you completely engage with the contest." Media Caption: 'Brilliant' Healy Hits 142 to Aid Australia Complete Record Run Chase Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning. She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation. A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from there the batsman was in motion. "The possibility to take the field and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun that way, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy. She reached fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits. When she was out the team needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish. "Pursuing 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the belief to achieve that now," continued Healy. "Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we know we can do it." That comment will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this World Cup need to hear. During the last week a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this victory succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one point. Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed. It was at that stage they exited last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at an important competition. So strong is her resolve, she later said she regretted not playing with the discomfort. But while she afterwards confessed those injuries have postponed consideration of ending her career, this championship is expected to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as captain. Victory in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.