🔗 Share this article

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

The greatest achievements have already been conquered.

This is the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, are all that remain for a team that has won it all.

• Healy's Century Assists Australia to Record Chase
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
• Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers

It needed up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.

It's difficult for their batsmen to maintain a record if not provided the possibility.

Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to produce her most recent brilliance.

Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.

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

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

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

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

If this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.

Some will argue the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

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

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.

"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it was a disappointing period because I feel like I've had no rhythm whatsoever," stated Healy.

"But once you take the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you completely engage with the contest."

Healy's competitive nature has always been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.

A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from there Healy was on her way.

"A chance to go out there and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, kind of motivated me," said Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.

Once she was dismissed Australia required another 66 at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the belief to do that now," continued Healy.

"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if we do, we believe we can do it."

Those words will be the last competing nations at this championship need to hear.

During the last week a feeling they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this triumph following win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors 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 last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.

So great is her will, she later said she regretted not playing despite the injury.

However although she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have delayed plans to retire, this tournament is anticipated as her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a global event as captain.

Success in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.