🔗 Share this article

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

The highest peaks have long been mastered.

This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, targeted by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a squad that has accomplished all there is.

• Healy's Century Assists Australia to Unprecedented Chase
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers

It needed until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.

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

In the end, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to deliver her latest masterpiece.

Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.

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

The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the successful run.

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

At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.

Whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display is debatable.

Some will argue the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's definite is this hundred was considerably tougher to anticipate.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this innings 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 practice sessions, it's been a disappointing period because I feel like I've had no rhythm whatsoever," stated Healy.

"However when you take the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you simply focus on the match."

Healy's competitive nature has always been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.

A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from there the right-hander was in motion.

"A chance to go out there and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, kind of motivated me," said Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.

When she was out her side needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.

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

"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if necessary, we are confident we can succeed."

These statements will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this championship want to hear.

In recent days a sense they will win from any position has become more firm - this victory following success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.

During that phase they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at an important competition.

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

But while she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this championship is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as captain.

Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.