🔗 Share this article

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

The top summits have been successfully scaled.

This is the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and once went nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, targeted by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a squad that has achieved everything.

• Healy's Hundred Aids Australia to Record Chase
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
• Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers

The fact it required as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.

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

Ultimately, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece.

Initially recognized as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.

A T20 championship victory came three months after her bow and seven global championships have followed from 10 attempts across formats.

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

That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.

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

If this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort can be debated.

Some will argue the reasoning behind final game tension. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

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

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.

"If you've observed me in the nets, it's been a challenging time because it appeared my form was missing completely," stated Healy.

"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit activate and you just lock into the competition."

Healy's competitiveness has always been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.

A single came off Gaud's first delivery and after that the batsman was on her way.

"The possibility to go out there and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun that way, sort of got me going," stated Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.

Once she was removed the team needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I am glad we have the confidence to achieve that now," added Healy.

"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, should it happen, we are confident we can succeed."

Those words will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this tournament should hear.

During the last week a feeling they will win from any position has become more firm - this victory coming after win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.

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

It was in the semi-finals they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at an important competition.

So strong is her resolve, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.

However although she later admitted those physical issues have delayed thoughts of retirement, this championship is likely to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as skipper.

Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.