🔗 Share this article

It's difficult for Australia to set fresh records.

The greatest achievements have already been conquered.

We're talking about the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and once went over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, those for the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a team that has won it all.

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

That it took up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the pitchers that have represented Australia over five decades.

It is hard for their batsmen to possess a record if not provided the chance.

In the end, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to produce her latest masterpiece.

Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her bow and seven world titles have followed from 10 attempts across formats.

The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the winning streak.

That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.

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

The question of whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort is debatable.

Some will argue the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What's definite is this century was far harder to anticipate.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this innings followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"For those following me in practice sessions, it has been a disappointing period because it appeared I lacked timing completely," said Healy.

"But once you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit activate and you simply focus on the contest."

Healy's competitiveness has always been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.

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

"A chance to take the field and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, sort of got me going," stated Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.

When she was removed Australia needed 66 more at run per delivery - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the belief to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.

"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if we do, we believe we can succeed."

Those words will be the final thing competing nations at this tournament need to hear.

In recent days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this victory coming after victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.

It was in the semi-finals they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at an important competition.

So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wished she had played through the pain.

However although she afterwards confessed those physical issues have delayed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is likely to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as leader.

Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.