🔗 Share this article

It's tough for the Australian squad to break new ground.

The top summits have long been mastered.

We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and once went over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a side that has won it all.

• Healy's Ton Helps Australia to Historic Pursuit
• ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
• Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers

That it took until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over five decades.

It is hard for their batters to possess a record if never given the chance.

In the end, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to deliver her newest gem.

Originally famous as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.

A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her debut and seven world titles have resulted from 10 tries across formats.

The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.

That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not fail again.

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

Certain people claim the reasoning behind final game tension. Different voices suggest 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 anticipate.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it has been a challenging time because it appeared my form was missing whatsoever," commented Healy.

"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you completely engage with the competition."

Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's spark.

One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from there the batsman was in motion.

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

She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.

By the time she was removed her side needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the assurance to achieve that now," added Healy.

"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if we do, we believe we can achieve it."

That comment will be the last rival teams at this tournament want to hear.

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

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.

It was in the semi-finals they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a significant event.

Such is her determination, she later said she regretted not playing through the pain.

However although she afterwards confessed those physical issues have delayed consideration of ending her career, this championship is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as leader.

Victory in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.