🔗 Share this article Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain. Video Description: Healy Guides Historic Pursuit as Australia Beat India It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground. The highest peaks have long been mastered. We're talking about the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket. The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are all that remain for a side that has accomplished all there is. Healy's Ton Aids Australia to Record Chase Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers It needed up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades. It's difficult for their batters to hold a record if never given the possibility. In the end, the result of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy being given a chance to produce her most recent brilliance. Then best known as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since. A T20 championship victory happened three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats. The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the winning streak. That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently. At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again. Whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort is debatable. Some will argue the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000. What's definite is this ton was considerably tougher to anticipate. The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this innings was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30. "For those following me in training, it has been a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing whatsoever," commented Healy. "But once you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit kick in and you completely engage with the competition." Video Description: 'Excellent' Healy Hits 142 to Help Australia Accomplish Unprecedented Chase Healy's fighting spirit has always been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning. She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark. One run resulted off the opening delivery and after that the batsman was underway. "The possibility to go out there and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy. She reached fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums. By the time she was dismissed the team needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion. "Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the confidence to achieve that now," added Healy. "Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if we do, we know we can succeed." These statements will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup need to hear. Over the past five days a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this success succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment. Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure. It was at that stage they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at an important competition. Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated despite the injury. However although she afterwards confessed those physical issues have delayed thoughts of retirement, this tournament is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as leader. Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.