🔗 Share this article Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Faces One Final Mountain. Media Caption: Healy Leads Record Chase as Australia Defeat India It's difficult for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats. The highest peaks have long been mastered. This is the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket. The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has accomplished all there is. Healy's Ton Helps Australia to Unprecedented Chase Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers It needed until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years. It's difficult for their batters to hold a record if never given the opportunity. Ultimately, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy being given a chance to deliver her latest masterpiece. Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 successful years since. Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her debut and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats. The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the run of success. That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week. At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fail again. If this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion. Some will argue the case for final game tension. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000. What's clear is this century was far harder to anticipate. The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this performance followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30. "For those following me in practice sessions, it has been a frustrating experience because it appeared I've had no rhythm completely," said Healy. "However when you take the field, your fighting spirit activate and you simply focus on the contest." Media Caption: 'Excellent' Healy Hits 142 to Help Australia Complete Record Run Chase Healy's competitiveness has always been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning. She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration. One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from there the batsman was underway. "A chance to play and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, sort of got me going," said Healy. She reached fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes. When she was dismissed the team needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll. "Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the belief to achieve that now," stated Healy further. "Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if we do, we believe we can achieve it." These statements will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup should hear. During the last week a belief they will win from any position has grown stronger - this success following win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage. Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed. During that phase they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at an important competition. Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing despite the injury. However although she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have postponed thoughts of retirement, this championship is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as captain. Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.