🔗 Share this article

It's difficult for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The top summits have long been mastered.

We're talking about the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, targeted by the record chasers, are all that remain for a side that has accomplished all there is.

• Healy's Hundred Aids Australia to Record Chase
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers

It needed up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.

It's challenging for their hitters to possess a record if not provided the opportunity.

Finally, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to produce her most recent brilliance.

Originally famous as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.

A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her bow and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.

That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fall short again.

If this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.

Many contend the case for final game tension. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this knock was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've observed me in the nets, it was a challenging time because it seemed I lacked timing completely," stated Healy.

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

Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.

One run resulted off the opening delivery and after that the batsman was on her way.

"The possibility 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," stated Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.

Once she was dismissed the team needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.

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

"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if necessary, we are confident we can achieve it."

Those words will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this championship want to hear.

During the last week a sense they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this triumph succeeding win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.

It was in the semi-finals they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at an important competition.

Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing with the discomfort.

Yet even as she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have delayed plans to retire, this World Cup is expected to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as skipper.

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