🔗 Share this article

It's difficult for Australia to set fresh records.

The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.

This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and once went nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, targeted by the peak baggers, are all that remain for a team that has achieved everything.

• Healy's Hundred Aids Australia to Unprecedented Chase
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
• Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers

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

It is hard for their hitters to possess a record if not provided the opportunity.

In the end, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to create her most recent brilliance.

Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.

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

The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.

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

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not come up short.

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

Certain people claim the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

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

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"For those following me in the nets, it was a challenging time because it appeared I lacked timing at all," stated Healy.

"But once you take the field, your fighting spirit take over and you simply focus on the contest."

Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.

A single came off the opening delivery and from there Healy was underway.

"A chance to take the field and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself that way, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.

Once she was out Australia needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the confidence to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.

"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, should it happen, we believe we can do it."

These statements will be the last competing nations at this World Cup should hear.

During the last week a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this triumph following victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.

It was in the semi-finals they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a major tournament.

Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.

But while she afterwards confessed those physical issues have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as skipper.

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