🔗 Share this article Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain. Video Description: Healy Guides Historic Pursuit as Australia Defeat India It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats. The greatest achievements have already been conquered. This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket. The alternative records, the ones sought by the record chasers, are all that remain for a squad that has achieved everything. Healy's Hundred Assists Australia to Historic Pursuit Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers That it took as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the last half-century. It's challenging for their hitters to maintain a record if not provided the possibility. Finally, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her most recent brilliance. Originally famous as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation didn't secure 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 arrived three months after her debut and seven international trophies have followed from 10 tries across formats. The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the winning streak. That loss "motivated 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 named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again. Whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display can be debated. Many contend the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000. What's clear is this ton was far harder to predict. The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this innings came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30. "If you've been watching me in the nets, it has been a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm whatsoever," stated Healy. "Yet the moment you take the field, your fighting spirit activate and you simply focus on the match." Video Description: 'Fantastic' Healy Makes 142 to Help Australia Accomplish Unprecedented Chase Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning. She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark. One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the batsman was underway. "An opportunity to take the field and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy. She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three sixes. Once she was removed the team needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion. "Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the confidence to accomplish that now," continued Healy. "Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if necessary, we know we can succeed." That comment will be the final thing competing nations at this championship should hear. In recent days a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this victory coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage. Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed. It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at a major tournament. Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing with the discomfort. But while she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this championship is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as skipper. Victory in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.