🔗 Share this article Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Faces One Final Mountain. Video Description: Healy Leads Record Chase as Australia Overcome India It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground. The greatest achievements have long been mastered. We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket. The alternative records, those for the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a team that has accomplished all there is. Healy's Century Helps Australia to Historic Pursuit Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers It needed until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the last half-century. It is hard for their hitters to hold a record if never given the chance. In the end, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to deliver her most recent brilliance. Originally famous as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since. A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her debut and seven international trophies have followed from 10 efforts across formats. The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the winning streak. That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week. At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fail again. Whether this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display can be debated. Many contend the case for the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000. What's definite is this ton was much more difficult to anticipate. The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this knock followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30. "If you've observed me in the nets, it's been a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm at all," said Healy. "But once you step out on the field, your fighting spirit activate and you just lock into the contest." Media Caption: 'Brilliant' Healy Scores 142 to Help Australia Achieve Historic Pursuit Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning. She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark. A single was taken off the opening delivery and after that the batsman was on her way. "The possibility to go out there and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, kind of motivated me," commented Healy. She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three sixes. Once she was out Australia needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion. "Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the assurance to accomplish that now," added Healy. "Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if we do, we believe we can do it." Those words will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this championship need to hear. During the last week a sense they will win from any position has grown stronger - this victory following win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one point. Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure. It was in the semi-finals they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament. So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated with the discomfort. But while she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have pushed back plans to retire, this championship is expected to be her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper. Victory in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.