🔗 Share this article Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge. Media Caption: Healy Leads Record Chase as Australia Beat India It's tough for Australia to break new ground. The top summits have been successfully scaled. We're talking about the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket. The alternative records, the ones sought by the record chasers, are what's still available for a team that has won it all. Healy's Century Assists Australia to Record Chase ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards 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 achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades. It's challenging for their batters to maintain a record if never given the possibility. Ultimately, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to produce her newest gem. Initially recognized as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since. Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her debut and seven global championships have resulted from 10 tries across formats. The tough gloveman 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 following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not come up short. If this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display is debatable. Some will argue the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000. What's definite is this ton was considerably tougher to see coming. The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30. "For those following me in practice sessions, it has been a frustrating experience because it appeared my form was missing at all," stated Healy. "Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit take over and you simply focus on the competition." Video Description: 'Excellent' Healy Scores 142 to Aid Australia Complete Record Run Chase Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning. She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's spark. A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from that point Healy was underway. "The possibility to go out there and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, kind of motivated me," commented Healy. She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three maximums. By the time she was dismissed the team required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll. "Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I am glad we have the belief to achieve that now," stated Healy further. "Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if we do, we know we can do it." That comment will be the last rival teams at this tournament should hear. In recent days a feeling they will win from any position has become more firm - this victory following win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one point. Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed. It was in the semi-finals they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a significant event. Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wished she had played with the discomfort. However although she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have pushed back plans to retire, this tournament is expected to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as leader. Success in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.