🔗 Share this article Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge. Media Caption: Healy Leads Record Chase as Australia Beat India It's difficult for the Australian squad to set fresh records. The top summits have been successfully scaled. We're talking about the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket. The secondary achievements, those for the peak baggers, are the only things left for a squad that has achieved everything. Healy's Ton Aids Australia to Unprecedented Chase Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers That it took as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century. It's challenging for their batters to possess a record if never given the opportunity. Ultimately, the result of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to deliver her latest masterpiece. Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since. A T20 championship victory happened three months after her first appearance and seven world titles 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 run of success. That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently. At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again. The question of whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion. Certain people claim the argument supporting championship match pressure. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000. What's clear is this century was much more difficult to predict. The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this knock 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 the nets, it has been a frustrating experience because I feel like my form was missing at all," said Healy. "However when you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit kick in and you simply focus on the match." Media Caption: 'Excellent' Healy Makes 142 to Help Australia Accomplish Unprecedented Chase Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her great strength - and a priceless quality in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning. She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation. A single came off the opening delivery and from that point the batsman was on her way. "A chance to go out there and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself that way, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy. She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits. When she was dismissed the team needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion. "To chase 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the belief to achieve that now," stated Healy further. "Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, should it happen, we are confident we can achieve 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 succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this triumph following success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one point. Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed. It was in the semi-finals they exited the previous 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 guided Australia for the initial instance at a significant event. Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated through the pain. However although she later admitted those physical issues have delayed thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as captain. Success in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.