🔗 Share this article Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Faces One Final Mountain. Media Caption: Healy Leads Record Chase as Australia Beat India It's difficult for Australia to set fresh records. The top summits have long been mastered. This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket. The secondary achievements, targeted by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a team that has won it all. Healy's Century Aids Australia to Unprecedented Chase ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers It needed until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades. It's challenging for their batsmen to hold a record if not provided the possibility. Finally, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given a chance to create her latest masterpiece. Originally famous as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI 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 bow and seven global championships have resulted from 10 tries across formats. The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the winning streak. That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier. At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fail again. If this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion. Many contend the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000. What's clear is this century was considerably tougher to anticipate. The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this knock was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30. "If you've been watching me in the nets, it has been a frustrating experience because it seemed I've had no rhythm completely," commented Healy. "But once you enter the playing area, your competitive nature kick in and you just lock into the competition." Media Caption: 'Brilliant' Healy Makes 142 to Assist Australia Complete Record Run Chase Healy's competitive nature has always been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning. She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's motivation. A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and after that Healy was on her way. "A chance to go out there and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy. She reached fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits. When she was removed Australia needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion. "Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the belief to achieve that now," added Healy. "Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, if we do, we believe we can achieve it." Those words will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this championship need to hear. In recent days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this triumph coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment. Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed. It was at that stage they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at an important competition. So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wished she had played despite the injury. Yet even as she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have pushed back plans to retire, this tournament is expected to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as leader. Victory in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.