🔗 Share this article The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge. Media Caption: Healy Leads Record Chase as The Aussies Beat India It's a challenge for Australia to set fresh records. The top summits have been successfully scaled. This is the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket. The secondary achievements, targeted by the peak baggers, are the only things left for a squad that has won it all. Healy's Hundred Aids Australia to Unprecedented Chase ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers It needed up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades. It's difficult for their hitters to maintain a record if never given the chance. In the end, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece. Originally famous as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since. A T20 World Cup win came three months after her debut and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 efforts across formats. The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the successful run. That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier. At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fail again. The question of whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement can be debated. Some will argue the case for championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000. What's definite is this hundred was much more difficult to predict. The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this knock was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30. "If you've observed me in training, it's been a frustrating experience because I feel like I lacked timing completely," commented Healy. "But once you take the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you completely engage with the contest." Media Caption: 'Brilliant' Healy Hits 142 to Help Australia Achieve Historic Pursuit Healy's competitiveness has always been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning. She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark. A single was taken off the opening delivery and from there the batsman was in motion. "The possibility to go out there and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself that way, sort of got me going," said Healy. She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three maximums. By the time she was dismissed her side needed 66 more at run per delivery - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion. "Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the belief to accomplish that now," added Healy. "Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if necessary, we believe we can do it." Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this tournament want to hear. During the last week a belief they will win from any position has become more firm - this success following win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at a certain moment. Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed. It was at that stage they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at a significant event. Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wished she had played despite the injury. But while she afterwards confessed those physical issues have postponed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as captain. Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.