🔗 Share this article

It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The highest peaks have already been conquered.

This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, targeted by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a squad that has accomplished all there is.

• Healy's Hundred Assists Australia to Historic Pursuit
• ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers

The fact it required up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.

It is hard for their batsmen to hold a record if not provided the opportunity.

Finally, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to produce her most recent brilliance.

Initially recognized as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her debut and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats.

The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the successful run.

That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fail again.

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

Certain people claim the argument supporting championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

What's definite is this century was considerably tougher to anticipate.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this knock was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it has been a disappointing period because I feel like my form was missing completely," commented Healy.

"However when you take the field, your competitive instincts activate and you just lock into the contest."

Healy's competitiveness has always been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.

A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the right-hander was in motion.

"A chance to take the field and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.

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

Once she was out Australia required another 66 at run per delivery - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the belief to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.

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

Those words will be the last Australia's opponents at this tournament need to hear.

During the last week a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this success following win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one point.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.

During that phase they left last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a major tournament.

So great is her will, she later said she wished she had played despite the injury.

But while she later admitted those injuries have postponed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as leader.

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