🔗 Share this article The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Faces One Final Mountain. Video Description: Healy Guides Historic Pursuit as Australia Overcome India It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground. The greatest achievements have long been mastered. We're talking about the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket. The remaining milestones, targeted by the peak baggers, are all that remain for a team that has accomplished all there is. Healy's Hundred Assists Australia to Unprecedented Chase ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers That it took up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century. It's challenging for their batsmen to possess a record if never given the chance. Ultimately, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to deliver her most recent brilliance. Originally famous 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 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since. A T20 championship victory happened three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have come from 10 tries across formats. The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the successful run. That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week. At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fail again. If this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display is debatable. Some will argue the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000. What's clear is this hundred was far harder to see coming. The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this innings was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs. "If you've been watching me in training, it's been a challenging time because it appeared I lacked timing completely," stated Healy. "But once you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts take over and you completely engage with the contest." Media Caption: 'Fantastic' Healy Hits 142 to Assist Australia Complete Record Run Chase Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning. She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's motivation. A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and after that the right-hander was in motion. "The possibility to play and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, sort of got me going," said Healy. She reached fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits. When she was out Australia needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish. "To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the assurance to accomplish that now," continued Healy. "Ideally we won't need to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can do it." These statements will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this tournament need to hear. Over the past five days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this victory following victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at a certain moment. Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed. It was at that stage they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a major tournament. So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated despite the injury. But while she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have pushed back plans to retire, this World Cup is expected to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as leader. Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.