🔗 Share this article

It's difficult for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.

The greatest achievements have already been conquered.

We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, those for the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a side that has won it all.

• Healy's Century Helps Australia to Historic Pursuit
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
• Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers

That it took up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.

It's challenging for their batters to hold a record if not afforded the chance.

Ultimately, the result of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to deliver her newest gem.

Initially recognized as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.

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

The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.

That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.

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

Some will argue the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What is certain is this ton was far harder to anticipate.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.

"For those following me in the nets, it was a frustrating experience because I feel like my form was missing completely," commented Healy.

"But once you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit activate and you just lock into the competition."

Healy's fighting spirit has always been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.

One run resulted off the opening delivery and from that point the right-hander was in motion.

"A chance to play and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.

Once she was dismissed her side required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I am glad we have the confidence to do that now," continued Healy.

"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, should it happen, we believe we can achieve it."

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

In recent days a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph coming after win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.

It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the previous 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 captained her nation for the initial instance at a major tournament.

Such is her determination, she later said she wanted to have participated through the pain.

Yet even as she later admitted those injuries have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as leader.

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