🔗 Share this article

It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The top summits have already been conquered.

This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and once went over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the record chasers, are what's still available for a side that has won it all.

• Healy's Hundred Assists Australia to Historic Pursuit
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers

It needed as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.

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 platform to deliver her newest gem.

Originally famous as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.

A T20 championship victory came three months after her debut and seven world titles have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.

The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the run of success.

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

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not come up short.

Whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display can be debated.

Some will argue the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's definite is this hundred was far harder to see coming.

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this performance was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"If you've been watching me in the nets, it has been a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm at all," said Healy.

"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive instincts activate and you simply focus on the contest."

Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's spark.

A single came off the bowler's initial ball and after that the batsman was underway.

"The possibility to go out there and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.

Once she was dismissed Australia required another 66 at one run per ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.

"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the assurance to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.

"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we believe we can achieve it."

That comment will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this tournament need to hear.

In recent days a sense they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this success following success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.

It was at that stage they left last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.

Such is her determination, she later said she regretted not playing with the discomfort.

Yet even as she later admitted those injuries have delayed thoughts of retirement, this tournament is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper.

Victory in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.