🔗 Share this article Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge. Media Caption: Healy Leads Record Chase as Australia Defeat India It's tough for Australia to break new ground. The top summits have already been conquered. We're talking about the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket. The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are the only things left for a side that has won it all. Healy's Ton Helps Australia to Historic Pursuit ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers That it took as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years. It's difficult for their batters to hold a record if never given the chance. Ultimately, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to produce her newest gem. Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since. A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her debut and seven global championships have followed from 10 tries across formats. The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the winning streak. That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently. At the subsequent ODI World Cup 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 latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion. Certain people claim the case for championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the difficulty 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 Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this knock followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30. "For those following me in training, it has been a frustrating experience because it seemed I've had no rhythm completely," stated Healy. "But once you take the field, your fighting spirit take over and you simply focus on the contest." Video Description: 'Fantastic' Healy Hits 142 to Assist Australia Achieve Historic Pursuit Healy's competitiveness has always been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning. She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark. A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from there the right-hander was on her way. "A chance to play and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself that way, kind of motivated me," commented Healy. She reached fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes. When she was dismissed the team required another 66 at run per delivery - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion. "To chase 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the confidence to achieve that now," continued Healy. "Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if we do, we are confident we can achieve it." Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this World Cup need to hear. In recent days a feeling they will win from any position has become more firm - this triumph following victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at one point. Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed. It was at that stage they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a significant event. So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wished she had played through the pain. However although she later admitted those injuries have postponed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as skipper. Victory in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.