🔗 Share this article

It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The top summits have already been conquered.

We're talking about the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, targeted by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a team that has achieved everything.

• Healy's Ton Helps Australia to Historic Pursuit
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
• Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers

The fact it required up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.

It is hard for their batters to maintain a record if not afforded the possibility.

Ultimately, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a platform to produce her latest masterpiece.

Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her bow and seven world titles have come from 10 tries across formats.

The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.

That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not come up short.

If this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.

Many contend the argument supporting final game tension. Others can counter with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

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

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"If you've observed me in training, it was a challenging time because it appeared I lacked timing completely," commented Healy.

"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive nature activate and you simply focus on the competition."

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

She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.

A single came off the opening delivery and after that Healy was underway.

"The possibility to play and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, kind of motivated me," said Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.

By the time she was removed Australia needed 66 more at one run per ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the confidence to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.

"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we are confident we can succeed."

Those words will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this tournament need to hear.

Over the past five days a sense they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this victory following victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one point.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.

It was at that stage they exited last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a major tournament.

So strong is her resolve, she later said she wished she had played through the pain.

However although she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have postponed thoughts of retirement, this tournament is anticipated as her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as leader.

Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.