🔗 Share this article

It's tough for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.

The highest peaks have already been conquered.

We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the record chasers, are all that remain for a squad that has accomplished all there is.

• Healy's Hundred Helps Australia to Unprecedented Chase
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
• Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers

That it took until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.

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

Finally, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to create her most recent brilliance.

Originally famous as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her debut and seven global championships have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.

The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the run of success.

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

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fall short again.

Whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.

Some will argue the case for the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's definite is this ton was far harder to predict.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this innings was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it has been a frustrating experience because it appeared my form was missing at all," stated Healy.

"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you just lock into the match."

Healy's competitiveness has always been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's spark.

One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from there the batsman was on her way.

"A chance to play and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, sort of got me going," stated Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.

When she was removed the team required another 66 at one run per ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the assurance to achieve that now," stated Healy further.

"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we are confident we can succeed."

Those words will be the last rival teams at this tournament need to hear.

During the last week a sense they will win from any position has grown stronger - this success coming after success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.

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

During that phase they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at an important competition.

So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated through the pain.

But while she later admitted those fitness problems have delayed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is expected to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as captain.

Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.