🔗 Share this article

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

The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.

This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are what's still available for a side that has achieved everything.

• Healy's Hundred Helps Australia to Historic Pursuit
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers

The fact it required until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.

It is hard for their hitters to possess a record if not afforded the opportunity.

Finally, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy being given a chance to produce her newest gem.

Initially recognized as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture 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 happened three months after her bow and seven global championships have resulted from 10 tries across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the run of success.

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

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

The question of whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display is debatable.

Certain people claim the case for championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

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

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this innings was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.

"For those following me in the nets, it was a challenging time because it appeared I lacked timing whatsoever," stated Healy.

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

Healy's competitive nature has always been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.

A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and after that the batsman was on her way.

"An opportunity to go out there and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, kind of motivated me," said Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.

By the time she was removed the team needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.

"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the belief to achieve that now," added Healy.

"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if we do, we know we can achieve it."

These statements will be the final thing competing nations at this championship need to hear.

In recent days a belief they will win from any position has become more firm - this triumph coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.

During that phase they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a significant event.

So strong is her resolve, she later said she wanted to have participated through the pain.

Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have delayed thoughts of retirement, this tournament is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as leader.

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