🔗 Share this article

It's difficult for Australia to set fresh records.

The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.

We're talking about the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, targeted by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a team that has accomplished all there is.

• Healy's Hundred Helps Australia to Record Chase
• ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
• Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers

The fact it required as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.

It's challenging for their batters to possess a record if not provided the possibility.

Ultimately, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a chance to produce her latest masterpiece.

Initially recognized as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her bow and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats.

The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the winning streak.

That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not come up short.

The question of whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.

Some will argue the case for final game tension. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's clear is this century was much more difficult to see coming.

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

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

"However when you take the field, your fighting spirit take over and you completely engage with the match."

Healy's fighting spirit has always been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.

A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and after that Healy was on her way.

"A chance to take the field and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.

When she was dismissed Australia required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the assurance to accomplish that now," continued Healy.

"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, should it happen, we are confident we can succeed."

That comment will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup need to hear.

In recent days a belief they will win from any position has grown stronger - this success succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.

During that phase they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at an important competition.

So strong is her resolve, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.

But while she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have delayed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as leader.

Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.