🔗 Share this article Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Faces One Final Mountain. Media Caption: Healy Guides Historic Pursuit as The Aussies Defeat India It's tough for Australia to set fresh records. The highest peaks have long been mastered. This is the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket. The alternative records, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a team that has won it all. Healy's Century Assists Australia to Unprecedented Chase ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers It needed as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over five decades. It is hard for their hitters to hold a record if not afforded the possibility. In the end, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to produce her latest masterpiece. Then best known as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since. A T20 championship victory came three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have come from 10 efforts across formats. The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the run of success. 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 championship match and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not fail again. Whether this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display can be debated. Some will argue the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000. What's definite is this century was considerably tougher to predict. The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this knock came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs. "For those following me in training, it's been a disappointing period because it appeared my form was missing whatsoever," commented Healy. "But once you take the field, your competitive instincts take over and you just lock into the competition." Media Caption: 'Brilliant' Healy Makes 142 to Aid Australia Accomplish Unprecedented Chase Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning. She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but here that only provided Healy's motivation. One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and after that Healy was in motion. "An opportunity to go out there and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, kind of motivated me," stated Healy. She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three maximums. Once she was removed Australia needed 66 more at run per delivery - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion. "Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm pleased we have the belief to do that now," stated Healy further. "Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we know we can achieve it." Those words will be the final thing competing nations at this tournament need to hear. During the last week a sense they will win from any position has grown stronger - this triumph coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at one stage. Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure. During that phase they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at an important competition. So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wished she had played with the discomfort. However although she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is expected to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as leader. Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.