🔗 Share this article

It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The highest peaks have already been conquered.

We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, the ones sought by the record chasers, are all that remain for a side that has accomplished all there is.

• Healy's Ton Helps Australia to Unprecedented Chase
• ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers

The fact it required until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over five decades.

It's challenging for their batsmen to hold a record if not provided the chance.

Ultimately, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to deliver her latest masterpiece.

Initially recognized as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.

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

That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier.

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fall short again.

Whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort can be debated.

Some will argue the argument supporting championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

What's definite is this ton was considerably tougher to see coming.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this knock was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"For those following me in training, it's been a frustrating experience because it seemed I lacked timing at all," commented Healy.

"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive nature take over and you just lock into the competition."

Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.

One run resulted off the opening delivery and after that the batsman was in motion.

"An opportunity to play and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, kind of motivated me," said Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.

By the time she was removed Australia needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the belief to achieve that now," added Healy.

"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, if we do, we are confident we can succeed."

These statements will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this championship need to hear.

Over the past five days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this triumph succeeding success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.

It was at that stage they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.

Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing through the pain.

However although she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have postponed plans to retire, this tournament is likely to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper.

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