🔗 Share this article The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain. Media Caption: Healy Leads Record Chase as The Aussies Beat India It's difficult for Australia to break new ground. The top summits have already been conquered. We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket. The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a squad that has achieved everything. Healy's Ton Assists Australia to Historic Pursuit ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers That it took until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years. It's challenging for their hitters to possess a record if not provided the chance. Ultimately, the result of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy getting a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece. Originally famous as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since. A T20 championship victory happened three months after her debut and seven global championships have come from 10 efforts across formats. The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the run of success. That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier. At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not come up short. The question of whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement is debatable. Certain people claim the case for the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000. What is certain is this century was far harder to see coming. The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs. "For those following me in the nets, it was a frustrating experience because it seemed I lacked timing completely," said Healy. "But once you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you simply focus on the competition." Video Description: 'Fantastic' Healy Scores 142 to Aid Australia Achieve Historic Pursuit Healy's fighting spirit has always been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning. She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration. One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the right-hander was in motion. "The possibility to take the field and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself that way, kind of motivated me," said Healy. She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three sixes. When she was out the team needed 66 more at one run per ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion. "Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the belief to do that now," added Healy. "Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, if necessary, we know we can do it." That comment will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this championship should hear. In recent days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this victory coming after win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one point. Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed. It was in the semi-finals they left last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a significant event. Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated despite the injury. But while she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this championship is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a global event as leader. Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.