🔗 Share this article

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

The top summits have long been mastered.

This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a side that has won it all.

• Healy's Ton Aids Australia to Unprecedented Chase
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
• Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers

It needed up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute 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 not provided the opportunity.

In the end, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given a chance to produce her latest masterpiece.

Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous 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 experienced everything through 15 successful years since.

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

The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the winning streak.

That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.

If this latest epic knock topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.

Certain people claim the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

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

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when 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 been unable to reach 30.

"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it has been a challenging time because I feel like I lacked timing at all," said Healy.

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

Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her great strength - and a priceless quality in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.

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

"An opportunity to play and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 as she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.

By the time she was dismissed the team needed 66 more at run per delivery - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the assurance to do that now," continued Healy.

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

That comment will be the final thing competing nations at this championship should hear.

In recent days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph coming after success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at one stage.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.

It was in the semi-finals they left last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a major tournament.

Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wished she had played through the pain.

But while she later admitted those physical issues have pushed back plans to retire, this World Cup is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as skipper.

Victory in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.