🔗 Share this article

It's tough for Australia to set fresh records.

The top summits have already been conquered.

This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, those for the peak baggers, are all that remain for a squad that has achieved everything.

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

It needed as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.

It's difficult for their batters to possess a record if not provided the possibility.

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

Initially recognized as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her bow and seven international trophies have come from 10 attempts across formats.

The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the successful run.

That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.

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 recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display can be debated.

Some will argue the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

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

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.

"If you've observed me in training, it has been a disappointing period because I feel like I lacked timing at all," stated Healy.

"Yet the moment you take the field, your fighting spirit activate and you simply focus on the match."

Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.

One run resulted off the opening delivery and from there Healy was in motion.

"An opportunity to play and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself that way, sort of got me going," stated Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.

Once she was removed her side needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.

"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the confidence to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.

"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we know we can achieve it."

These statements will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this tournament want to hear.

Over the past five days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this success coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.

During that phase they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.

So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wished she had played with the discomfort.

However although she later admitted those injuries have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as leader.

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