🔗 Share this article Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge. Media Caption: Healy Guides Historic Pursuit as Australia Beat India It's a challenge for Australia to set fresh records. The greatest achievements have already been conquered. This is the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket. The alternative records, targeted by the record chasers, are all that remain for a team that has achieved everything. Healy's Ton Aids 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 achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century. It's challenging for their batters to possess a record if not afforded the possibility. Ultimately, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to create her latest masterpiece. Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted 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 came three months after her first appearance and seven global championships 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 successful run. That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier. At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fail again. If this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion. Some will argue the case for championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000. What is certain is this ton was much more difficult to see coming. The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this knock followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30. "For those following me in practice sessions, it's been a frustrating experience because it appeared I lacked timing completely," stated Healy. "Yet the moment you take the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you simply focus on the competition." Video Description: 'Fantastic' Healy Scores 142 to Aid Australia Complete Record Run Chase Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning. She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration. One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from that point Healy was in motion. "The possibility to go out there and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, kind of motivated me," commented Healy. She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three maximums. By the time she was removed the team required another 66 at one run per ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll. "Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the assurance to do that now," added Healy. "Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we are confident we can do it." That comment will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup need to hear. Over the past five days a sense they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this triumph following victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage. Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure. It was in the semi-finals they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a major tournament. So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated through the pain. However although she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this championship is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as skipper. Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.