🔗 Share this article

It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground.

The greatest achievements have already been conquered.

This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, the ones sought by the record chasers, are all that remain for a team that has won it all.

• Healy's Hundred Assists Australia to Unprecedented Chase
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers

It needed up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.

It is hard for their hitters to maintain a record if not provided the opportunity.

Ultimately, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given a platform to create her most recent brilliance.

Then best known as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.

A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have followed from 10 attempts across formats.

The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.

That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.

At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not come up short.

If this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.

Certain people claim the case for championship match pressure. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What's definite is this century was much more difficult to predict.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"For those following me in practice sessions, it has been a frustrating experience because it seemed I've had no rhythm completely," said Healy.

"But once you take the field, your competitive nature activate and you completely engage with the match."

Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.

One run resulted off the opening delivery and from that point Healy was on her way.

"An opportunity to take the field and engage in competition 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 century in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.

Once she was dismissed the team required another 66 at one run per ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.

"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the confidence to accomplish that now," added Healy.

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

That comment will be the last Australia's opponents at this championship want to hear.

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

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.

It was in the semi-finals they exited last 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 captained her nation for the first time at an important competition.

So strong is her resolve, she later said she wanted to have participated through the pain.

Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as captain.

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