🔗 Share this article

It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The top summits have already been conquered.

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

The alternative records, targeted by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a squad that has won it all.

• Healy's Century Assists Australia to Historic Pursuit
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
• Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers

It needed up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.

It's difficult for their hitters to hold a record if never given the opportunity.

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

Originally famous as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.

A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her bow and seven global championships have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.

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

That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.

Whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort is debatable.

Many contend the case for final game tension. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult 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 since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"If you've observed me in training, it has been a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm at all," said Healy.

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

Healy's competitive nature has always been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's emerging talent 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 motivation.

A single was taken off the opening delivery and from there the batsman was underway.

"The possibility to go out there and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.

When she was out her side required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.

"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the confidence to achieve that now," added Healy.

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

These statements will be the final thing competing nations at this World Cup need to hear.

During the last week a belief they will win from any position has only strengthened - this triumph coming after success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.

During that phase they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at a significant event.

So strong is her resolve, she later said she wished she had played with the discomfort.

But while she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this championship is expected to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a global event as skipper.

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