🔗 Share this article The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge. Media Caption: Healy Guides Historic Pursuit as Australia Defeat India It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground. The top summits have been successfully scaled. This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket. The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a side that has achieved everything. Healy's Hundred Aids Australia to Unprecedented Chase ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers That it took as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century. It is hard for their batters to maintain a record if not afforded the chance. Finally, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a chance to deliver her latest masterpiece. Originally famous as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since. Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her debut and seven international trophies have come from 10 efforts across formats. The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the winning streak. That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," 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 awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fail again. If this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display is debatable. Certain people claim the case for championship match pressure. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000. What's definite is this century was far harder to see coming. The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this innings followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30. "If you've observed me in practice sessions, it's been a disappointing period because I feel like I lacked timing completely," stated Healy. "But once you step out on the field, your competitive nature take over and you just lock into the competition." Video Description: 'Brilliant' Healy Hits 142 to Assist Australia Achieve Historic Pursuit Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her key asset - and a priceless quality in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning. She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark. A single came off Gaud's first delivery and after that Healy was in motion. "An opportunity to take the field and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, kind of motivated me," stated Healy. She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three maximums. Once she was dismissed her side needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion. "Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the assurance to achieve that now," added Healy. "Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if we do, we are confident we can achieve it." These statements will be the last Australia's opponents at this World Cup need to hear. During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this victory coming after victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage. Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure. It was at that stage they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a major tournament. So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury. However although she afterwards confessed those injuries have delayed thoughts of retirement, this tournament is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a global event as leader. Success in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.