🔗 Share this article

It's difficult for Australia to break new ground.

The top summits have been successfully scaled.

We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are all that remain for a squad that has achieved everything.

• Healy's Ton Helps Australia to Unprecedented Chase
• ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers

It needed as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.

It's challenging for their hitters to maintain a record if never given the opportunity.

Ultimately, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a platform to create her latest masterpiece.

Originally famous as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.

A T20 championship victory happened three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have followed from 10 tries across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the successful run.

That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not come up short.

Whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.

Certain people claim the case for the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

What's definite is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"If you've been watching me in training, it has been a disappointing period because I feel like my form was missing completely," commented Healy.

"Yet the moment you take the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you simply focus on the competition."

Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing 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 each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.

A single came off the opening delivery and after that Healy was in motion.

"An opportunity to go out there and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself that way, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.

By the time she was out Australia needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the confidence to achieve that now," stated Healy further.

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

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

During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this success following win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.

It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.

Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated through the pain.

However although she later admitted those injuries have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as leader.

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