🔗 Share this article

It's tough for the Australian squad to break new ground.

The highest peaks have long been mastered.

This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, those for the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a side that has achieved everything.

• Healy's Century Helps Australia to Unprecedented Chase
• ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
• Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers

That it took up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.

It's difficult for their batters to hold a record if not provided the possibility.

Ultimately, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to produce her latest masterpiece.

Then best known as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.

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

The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the successful run.

That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fall short again.

If this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.

Certain people claim the case for championship match pressure. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

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

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"For those following me in practice sessions, it's been a disappointing period because it seemed my form was missing at all," said Healy.

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

Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.

A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and after that the batsman was on her way.

"An opportunity to go out there and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself that way, sort of got me going," commented Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.

Once she was out the team needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.

"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the assurance to achieve that now," continued Healy.

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

That comment will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this tournament need to hear.

Over the past five days a feeling they will win from any position has become more firm - this success succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.

It was in the semi-finals they left the prior 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 captained her nation for the initial instance at a significant event.

Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wished she had played through the pain.

But while she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is expected to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as captain.

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