🔗 Share this article The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge. Video Description: Healy Leads Record Chase as Australia Beat India It's difficult for Australia to break new ground. The highest peaks have long been mastered. This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket. The alternative records, those for the record chasers, are the only things left for a side that has won it all. Healy's Ton Assists Australia to Historic Pursuit ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers It needed up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years. It is hard for their batsmen to possess a record if not provided the opportunity. Finally, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to create her most recent brilliance. Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since. A T20 championship victory happened three months after her bow and seven world titles have come from 10 efforts across formats. The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the run of success. That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week. At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not come up short. If this latest epic knock topped that previous effort can be debated. Some will argue the case for final game tension. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000. What's definite is this century was much more difficult to predict. The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30. "If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it was a frustrating experience because it seemed I've had no rhythm at all," commented Healy. "But once you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit activate and you completely engage with the competition." Video Description: 'Excellent' Healy Makes 142 to Assist Australia Complete Record Run Chase Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning. She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration. A single came off the opening delivery and after that Healy was on her way. "The possibility to go out there and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy. She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes. When she was dismissed the team required another 66 at run per delivery - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion. "Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the assurance to do that now," continued Healy. "Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if we do, we know we can succeed." These statements will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup need to hear. In recent days a belief they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this victory following success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage. Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed. It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at a major tournament. So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wished she had played despite the injury. But while she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have postponed thoughts of retirement, this championship is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as captain. Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.