🔗 Share this article

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

The top summits have already been conquered.

This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, targeted by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a side that has won it all.

• Healy's Ton Aids Australia to Unprecedented Chase
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
• Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers

The fact it required until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.

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

Ultimately, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a platform to deliver her most recent brilliance.

Initially recognized as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.

A T20 World Cup win came three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have followed from 10 attempts across formats.

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

That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," 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 come up short.

Whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display can be debated.

Some will argue the case for the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the test that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What is certain is this hundred was far harder to anticipate.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this knock was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.

"For those following me in training, it's been a challenging time because it appeared I lacked timing at all," stated Healy.

"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts activate and you just lock into the competition."

Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.

One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from there the right-hander was on her way.

"A chance to play and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, kind of motivated me," said Healy.

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

By the time she was out the team needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the belief to do that now," added Healy.

"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we believe we can achieve it."

Those words will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this championship need to hear.

In recent days a sense they will win from any position has grown stronger - this success following victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.

It was in the semi-finals they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a significant event.

So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wished she had played despite the injury.

Yet even as she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have delayed plans to retire, this tournament is likely to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as skipper.

Victory in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.