🔗 Share this article

It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The top summits have long been mastered.

This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, those for the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a team that has won it all.

• Healy's Century Aids Australia to Historic Pursuit
• ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
• Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers

It needed up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the last half-century.

It's challenging for their batters to hold a record if never given the possibility.

Finally, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to create her most recent brilliance.

Then best known as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.

A T20 championship victory came three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have followed from 10 attempts across formats.

The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.

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

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.

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

Many contend the case for the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

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

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, 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.

"For those following me in the nets, it was a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing at all," commented Healy.

"But once you step out on the field, your fighting spirit activate and you completely engage with the match."

Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.

A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and after that the right-hander was on her way.

"An opportunity to play and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself that way, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.

Once she was dismissed her side needed 66 more at run per delivery - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.

"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the belief to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.

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

Those words will be the last Australia's opponents at this World Cup should hear.

Over the past five days a belief they will win from any position has only strengthened - this victory following win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.

During that phase they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a major tournament.

So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated through the pain.

Yet even as she later admitted those physical issues have postponed thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as leader.

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