đź”— Share this article Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb. Video Description: Healy Guides Historic Pursuit as The Aussies Overcome India It's a challenge for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats. The greatest achievements have long been mastered. We're talking about the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket. The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has accomplished all there is. Healy's Hundred Aids Australia to Historic Pursuit Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers The fact it required up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years. It's challenging for their hitters to hold a record if not provided the chance. Finally, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her newest gem. Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since. A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her debut and seven world titles have come from 10 efforts across formats. The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the run of success. That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week. At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again. Whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement can be debated. Certain people claim the reasoning behind final game tension. Some might respond with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000. What's definite is this century was far harder to anticipate. The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30. "If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it was a frustrating experience because it seemed my form was missing completely," said Healy. "However when you take the field, your fighting spirit activate and you completely engage with the match." Video Description: 'Brilliant' Healy Hits 142 to Help Australia Complete Record Run Chase Healy's fighting spirit has always been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning. She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark. A single came off the opening delivery and from that point the right-hander was in motion. "An opportunity to play and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun that way, sort of got me going," said Healy. She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits. By the time she was removed her side needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish. "Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the assurance to achieve that now," added Healy. "Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if we do, we know we can achieve it." That comment will be the last rival teams at this World Cup need to hear. In recent days a sense they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this victory coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one point. Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with 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 exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament. So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing despite the injury. But while she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have pushed back plans to retire, this World Cup is anticipated as her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as skipper. Victory in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.