🔗 Share this article The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain. Media Caption: Healy Leads Record Chase as Australia Defeat India It's difficult for Australia to break new ground. The top summits have been successfully scaled. We're talking about the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and once went nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket. The alternative records, those for the record chasers, are the only things left for a side that has achieved everything. Healy's Hundred Assists Australia to Unprecedented Chase Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers That it took up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over five decades. It's challenging for their batsmen to hold a record if not afforded the chance. In the end, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to deliver her latest masterpiece. Originally famous as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since. Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have resulted from 10 tries across formats. The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak. That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week. At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not fall short again. The question of whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort is debatable. Certain people claim the argument supporting final game tension. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000. What's clear is this ton was much more difficult to predict. The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30. "If you've been watching me in the nets, it was a frustrating experience because it appeared I lacked timing at all," said Healy. "Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive nature take over and you just lock into the competition." Media Caption: 'Excellent' Healy Hits 142 to Assist Australia Complete Record Run Chase Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning. She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark. One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and after that Healy was underway. "A chance to play and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself that way, kind of motivated me," said Healy. She reached fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three big hits. Once she was out the team required another 66 at run per delivery - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion. "Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the assurance to accomplish that now," continued Healy. "Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if we do, we are confident we can succeed." These statements will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this championship want to hear. During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this success coming after win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one point. Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure. It was in the semi-finals they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at an important competition. Such is her determination, she later said she regretted not playing with the discomfort. But while she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as captain. Success in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.