🔗 Share this article

It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.

This is the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, are what's still available for a side that has won it all.

• Healy's Century Helps Australia to Unprecedented Chase
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
• Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers

The fact it required as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the last half-century.

It is hard for their batsmen to hold a record if never given the chance.

Ultimately, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given a chance to create her most recent brilliance.

Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.

A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.

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

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

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.

Whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.

Many contend the argument supporting championship match pressure. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

What's definite is this hundred was far harder to predict.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this innings came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"For those following me in training, it has been a disappointing period because I feel like I lacked timing completely," said Healy.

"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive instincts activate and you just lock into the competition."

Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her great strength - and a priceless quality in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.

A single was taken off the opening delivery and after that the batsman was in motion.

"An opportunity to play and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.

By the time she was out Australia needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.

"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the assurance to achieve that now," stated Healy further.

"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we know we can do it."

Those words will be the final thing competing nations at this championship should hear.

In recent days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this success coming after victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.

During that phase they left last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.

Such is her determination, she later said she wished she had played despite the injury.

But while she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have postponed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as skipper.

Success in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.