🔗 Share this article

It's tough for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.

The greatest achievements have already been conquered.

We're talking about the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, targeted by the record chasers, are what's still available for a squad that has accomplished all there is.

• Healy's Hundred Helps Australia to Unprecedented Chase
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers

The fact it required until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.

It's challenging for their hitters to hold a record if not provided the possibility.

Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to create her newest gem.

Originally famous as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.

A T20 championship victory came three months after her bow and seven global championships have come from 10 tries across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the successful run.

That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not come up short.

Whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort is debatable.

Some will argue the case for the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What is certain is this hundred was considerably tougher to predict.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this performance followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"If you've been watching me in training, it has been a frustrating experience because I feel like my form was missing whatsoever," said Healy.

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

Healy's competitive nature has always been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's spark.

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

"A chance to go out there and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.

Once she was removed her side needed 66 more at one run per ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.

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

"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if we do, we are confident we can do it."

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

During the last week a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this success coming after win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.

It was in the semi-finals they left last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a major tournament.

So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wished she had played through the pain.

Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is likely to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as leader.

Victory in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.