🔗 Share this article

It's a challenge for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.

The highest peaks have already been conquered.

We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, targeted by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a team that has achieved everything.

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

The fact it required until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.

It's challenging for their batsmen to hold a record if not afforded the possibility.

In the end, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to produce her latest masterpiece.

Originally famous as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything 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 tries across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the run of success.

That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not fail again.

Whether this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display is debatable.

Many contend the case for championship match pressure. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

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

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this innings followed six innings 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 practice sessions, it was a challenging time because it appeared I've had no rhythm whatsoever," stated Healy.

"Yet the moment you take the field, your fighting spirit take over and you just lock into the contest."

Healy's fighting spirit has always been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.

One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and after that the right-hander was in motion.

"A chance to take the field and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself that way, sort of got me going," said Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.

Once she was out the team needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.

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

"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."

These statements will be the last competing nations at this tournament need to hear.

In recent days a sense they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this victory following success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.

It was at that stage they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a significant event.

So strong is her resolve, she later said she regretted not playing through the pain.

Yet even as she afterwards confessed those injuries have delayed thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is likely to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as leader.

Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.