Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.

Video Description: Healy Leads Record Chase as Australia Beat India

It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground.

The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.

We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, targeted by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a side that has achieved everything.

  • Healy's Century Helps Australia to Historic Pursuit
  • Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
  • Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers

That it took as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.

It's difficult for their batsmen to maintain a record if never given the possibility.

Ultimately, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to create her latest masterpiece.

Then best known as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.

A T20 championship victory came three months after her debut and seven global championships have come 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 run of success.

That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not fail again.

Whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.

Certain people claim the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Some might respond with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

What's clear is this ton was much more difficult to see coming.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this knock was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it was a frustrating experience because I feel like my form was missing completely," said Healy.

"But once you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you just lock into the competition."

Media Caption: 'Excellent' Healy Scores 142 to Aid Australia Achieve Historic Pursuit

Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.

One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from there the right-hander was on her way.

"A chance to play and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, sort of got me going," said Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.

By the time she was removed Australia needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.

"To chase 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the confidence to accomplish that now," continued Healy.

"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, if necessary, we believe we can do it."

Those words will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this tournament need to hear.

During the last week a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this victory coming after victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.

It was at that stage they exited last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at an important competition.

Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated through the pain.

Yet even as she later admitted those physical issues have delayed plans to retire, this tournament is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as skipper.

Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.

Jodi Smith
Jodi Smith

Marcus Thorne is an investigative journalist with over a decade of experience covering political corruption and transparency issues.