🔗 Share this article Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge. Video Description: Healy Guides Historic Pursuit as Australia Beat India It's a challenge for Australia to set fresh records. The top summits have already been conquered. We're talking about the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and once went over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket. The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a side that has won it all. Healy's Ton Helps Australia to Unprecedented Chase Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers It needed as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowlers that have represented Australia over five decades. It's difficult for their batters to hold a record if never given the opportunity. Finally, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to produce her latest masterpiece. Initially recognized as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since. Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have resulted from 10 attempts across formats. The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the winning streak. That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier. At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fail again. The question of whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion. Many contend the reasoning behind final game tension. Others can counter with the test that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000. What is certain is this hundred was considerably tougher to anticipate. The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30. "For those following me in training, it was a challenging time because it seemed my form was missing whatsoever," said Healy. "Yet the moment you take the field, your fighting spirit take over and you simply focus on the contest." Media Caption: 'Fantastic' Healy Scores 142 to Aid Australia Accomplish Unprecedented Chase Healy's competitiveness has always been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning. She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's spark. A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and after that the right-hander was in motion. "The possibility to take the field and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, kind of motivated me," said Healy. She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three big hits. By the time she was removed her side required another 66 at run per delivery - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll. "Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I am glad we have the belief to do that now," added Healy. "Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, if we do, we know we can achieve it." These statements will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this tournament should hear. In recent days a belief they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this success succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at a certain moment. Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed. During that phase they left last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a major tournament. So strong is her resolve, she later said she wanted to have participated through the pain. But while she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper. Success in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.