🔗 Share this article

It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.

The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.

This is the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, those for the peak baggers, are the only things left for a team that has achieved everything.

• Healy's Century Helps Australia to Record Chase
• ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers

That it took up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.

It's difficult for their hitters to possess a record if never given the chance.

Finally, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to create her newest gem.

Then best known as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her bow and seven international trophies have followed from 10 tries across formats.

The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.

That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.

Whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.

Some will argue the case for final game tension. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What is certain is this ton was much more difficult to see coming.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.

"If you've observed me in training, it was a challenging time because it appeared my form was missing completely," said Healy.

"But once you take the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you simply focus on the match."

Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her great strength - and a priceless quality in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.

A single was taken off the opening delivery and from there the right-hander was underway.

"A chance to take the field and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, sort of got me going," commented Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.

Once she was out her side needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.

"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the confidence to accomplish that now," added Healy.

"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if necessary, we believe we can achieve it."

These statements will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this championship need to hear.

Over the past five days a belief they will win from any position has grown stronger - this triumph coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.

It was at that stage they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at an important competition.

So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wished she had played despite the injury.

Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have postponed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is likely to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as captain.

Success in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.