🔗 Share this article

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

The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.

This is the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has accomplished all there is.

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

It needed up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.

It's challenging for their batters to possess a record if never given the chance.

In the end, the result of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to deliver her most recent brilliance.

Initially recognized as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.

A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her bow and seven international trophies have followed from 10 attempts 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 "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.

At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.

The question of whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.

Many contend the argument supporting final game tension. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

What's clear is this hundred was far harder to predict.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've been watching me in the nets, it has been a disappointing period because it seemed my form was missing completely," said Healy.

"However when you step out on the field, your competitive nature activate and you just lock into the competition."

Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.

One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from there the batsman was in motion.

"A chance to go out there and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.

Once she was out Australia needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the assurance to do that now," stated Healy further.

"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if we do, we believe we can do it."

That comment will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this tournament should hear.

In recent days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this success succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.

It was at that stage they exited the previous 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 inaugural occasion at an important competition.

So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wished she had played despite the injury.

Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have delayed thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is expected to be her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as leader.

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