🔗 Share this article

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

The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.

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

The secondary achievements, those for the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a team that has accomplished all there is.

• Healy's Century Assists Australia to Unprecedented Chase
• ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
• Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers

It needed up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the last half-century.

It's challenging for their batters to maintain a record if never given the opportunity.

In the end, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to deliver her newest gem.

Then best known as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.

A T20 championship victory happened three months after her debut and seven international trophies have come from 10 efforts across formats.

The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the successful run.

That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fail again.

If this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.

Certain people claim the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

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

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"For those following me in the nets, it has been a frustrating experience because I feel like my form was missing completely," stated Healy.

"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive nature activate and you completely engage with the match."

Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but here that only provided Healy's spark.

One run resulted off the opening delivery and after that Healy was on her way.

"A chance to take the field and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.

By the time she was removed the team needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.

"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the belief to accomplish that now," added Healy.

"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, if necessary, we are confident we can achieve it."

These statements will be the last rival teams at this World Cup should hear.

Over the past five days a belief they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this victory succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.

It was at that stage they left 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 subsequently stated she wanted to have participated despite the injury.

Yet even as she later admitted those injuries have delayed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as leader.

Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.