🔗 Share this article

It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The top summits have been successfully scaled.

This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, the ones sought by the record chasers, are the only things left for a team that has accomplished all there is.

• Healy's Ton Aids Australia to Record Chase
• ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
• Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers

The fact it required up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the last half-century.

It's difficult for their batters to hold a record if never given the chance.

Finally, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to produce her most recent brilliance.

Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her debut and seven international trophies have come from 10 efforts across formats.

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

That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.

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

If this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display is debatable.

Certain people claim the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

What's definite is this century was far harder to anticipate.

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this performance was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"If you've observed me in training, it has been a frustrating experience because I feel like my form was missing completely," stated Healy.

"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive nature activate and you completely engage with the competition."

Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.

A single came off the opening delivery and from that point Healy was on her way.

"The possibility to go out there and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.

Once she was removed the team required another 66 at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.

"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the confidence to do that now," added Healy.

"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."

Those words will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup need to hear.

In recent days a sense they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this victory coming after win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.

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.

It was in the semi-finals they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.

So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.

Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have delayed plans to retire, this World Cup is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as leader.

Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.