🔗 Share this article

It's difficult for the Australian squad to set fresh records.

The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.

This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the record chasers, are what's still available for a team that has won it all.

• Healy's Ton Aids Australia to Record Chase
• ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers

The fact it required up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.

It's difficult for their batters to possess a record if not afforded the opportunity.

Ultimately, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given a chance to deliver her most recent brilliance.

Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former 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 experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.

A T20 championship victory happened three months after her bow and seven global championships have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the successful run.

That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fail again.

Whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display is debatable.

Some will argue the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

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

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.

"For those following me in the nets, it has been a frustrating experience because it seemed my form was missing completely," said Healy.

"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts kick in and you simply focus on the match."

Healy's competitiveness has always been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.

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

"An opportunity to play and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.

When she was dismissed her side needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"To chase 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the confidence to achieve that now," added Healy.

"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if necessary, we know we can succeed."

Those words will be the final thing competing nations at this championship should hear.

During the last week a sense they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this triumph following victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.

It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of 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 regretted not playing despite the injury.

However although she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have delayed thoughts of retirement, this championship is anticipated as her last as captain in one-day 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.