🔗 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 Australia Overcome India It's difficult for Australia to break new ground. The greatest achievements have long been mastered. We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket. The alternative records, those for the peak baggers, are what's still available for a team that has won it all. Healy's Hundred Aids Australia to Unprecedented Chase ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers That it took up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century. It's challenging for their batters to maintain a record if not afforded the opportunity. In the end, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy being given a platform to create her newest gem. Originally famous as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since. A T20 championship victory happened three months after her bow and seven global championships have followed from 10 efforts across formats. The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the successful run. That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week. At the next 50-over 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 come up short. Whether this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display is debatable. Some will argue the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000. What is certain is this hundred was considerably tougher to anticipate. The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this performance followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30. "If you've observed me in training, it's been a challenging time because it seemed I've had no rhythm at all," said Healy. "Yet the moment you step out on the field, your fighting spirit activate and you simply focus on the competition." Media Caption: 'Brilliant' Healy Makes 142 to Help Australia Achieve Historic Pursuit Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her great strength - and a priceless quality in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning. She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark. A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and after that Healy was on her way. "An opportunity to play and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself that way, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy. She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three maximums. When she was out the team needed 66 more at run per delivery - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion. "Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the belief to achieve that now," continued Healy. "Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, should it happen, we believe we can do it." These statements will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this championship want to hear. Over the past five days a feeling they will win from any position has become more firm - this triumph following success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one point. Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure. It was in the semi-finals they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a significant event. So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wished she had played through the pain. However although she later admitted those fitness problems have delayed plans to retire, this championship is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as leader. Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.