🔗 Share this article Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge. Media Caption: Healy Guides Historic Pursuit as Australia Overcome India It's difficult for Australia to break new ground. The greatest achievements have already been conquered. This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket. The secondary achievements, those for the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a team that has won it all. Healy's Century Aids Australia to Historic Pursuit Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers That it took up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the pitchers that have represented Australia over five decades. It's challenging for their hitters to hold a record if not afforded the possibility. In the end, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to create her latest masterpiece. Originally famous as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since. A T20 championship victory happened three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have followed from 10 attempts across formats. The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the run of success. That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently. At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. 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 reasoning behind championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000. What's clear is this ton was much more difficult to predict. The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, 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 practice sessions, it was a challenging time because it appeared my form was missing at all," commented Healy. "Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive nature kick in and you simply focus on the contest." Media Caption: 'Brilliant' Healy Scores 142 to Help Australia Complete Record Run Chase Healy's competitive nature has always been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning. She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation. One run resulted off the opening delivery and from there the batsman was in motion. "An opportunity to take the field and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, kind of motivated me," stated Healy. She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits. Once she was removed Australia needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion. "Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm pleased we have the confidence to do that now," stated Healy further. "Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if we do, we believe we can do it." That comment will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup should hear. During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this victory coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment. Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure. It was in the semi-finals they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a significant event. Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wished she had played despite the injury. However although she later admitted those physical issues have delayed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as leader. Victory in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.