🔗 Share this article

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

The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.

This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, targeted by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a squad that has accomplished all there is.

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

That it took up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.

It's challenging for their batters to maintain a record if never given the chance.

Finally, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a platform to produce her newest gem.

Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her debut and seven world titles have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the successful run.

That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.

The question of whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display can be debated.

Many contend the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What's definite is this hundred was much more difficult to anticipate.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this performance was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.

"If you've been watching me in training, it was a frustrating experience because I feel like my form was missing whatsoever," commented Healy.

"However when you take the field, your competitive nature kick in and you just lock into the match."

Healy's competitive nature has always been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's promising player 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 motivation.

A single came off the opening delivery and from there the batsman was on her way.

"An opportunity to play and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.

By the time she was removed the team needed 66 more at one run per ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the confidence to achieve that now," stated Healy further.

"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we believe we can succeed."

That comment will be the last rival teams at this tournament need to hear.

Over the past five days a sense they will win from any position has only strengthened - this victory succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.

It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at an important competition.

So great is her will, she later said she wished she had played through the pain.

However although she afterwards confessed those injuries have postponed thoughts of retirement, this tournament is likely to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as skipper.

Victory in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.