🔗 Share this article The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain. Media Caption: Healy Leads Record Chase as The Aussies Overcome 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, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket. The alternative records, those for the peak baggers, are the only things left for a side that has accomplished all there is. Healy's Hundred Helps Australia to Historic Pursuit Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers The fact it required until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the past 50 years. It is hard for their batters to hold a record if not provided the possibility. Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to create her most recent brilliance. Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since. Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her debut and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 efforts across formats. The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the winning streak. That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week. At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fail again. Whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display is debatable. Many contend the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000. What is certain is this ton was considerably tougher to anticipate. The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs. "If you've been watching me in the nets, it has been a challenging time because it seemed I've had no rhythm whatsoever," stated Healy. "However when you take the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you simply focus on the match." Media Caption: 'Excellent' Healy Makes 142 to Help Australia Achieve Historic Pursuit Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning. She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation. A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the batsman was in motion. "The possibility to take the field and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, kind of motivated me," commented Healy. She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes. Once she was dismissed the team required another 66 at one run per ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll. "To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the belief to do that now," continued Healy. "Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we are confident we can achieve it." That comment will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this tournament should hear. Over the past five days a belief they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this success following victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at a certain moment. Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure. It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at an important competition. So strong is her resolve, she later said she wished she had played with the discomfort. Yet even as she afterwards confessed those physical issues have delayed thoughts of retirement, this championship is expected to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a global event as captain. Victory in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.