🔗 Share this article

It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The highest peaks have long been mastered.

We're talking about the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, those for the peak baggers, are what's still available for a team that has won it all.

• Healy's Ton Aids Australia to Historic Pursuit
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers

That it took up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.

It's difficult for their batsmen to possess a record if not afforded the possibility.

In the end, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to deliver her newest gem.

Then best known as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.

A T20 World Cup win came three months after her debut and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats.

The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the run of success.

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

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not come up short.

Whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.

Many contend the argument supporting championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What is certain is this hundred was considerably tougher to see coming.

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

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

"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive instincts activate and you just lock into the competition."

Healy's fighting spirit has always been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.

One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and after that Healy was in motion.

"A chance to play and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.

When she was removed Australia needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.

"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the assurance to accomplish that now," continued Healy.

"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if we do, we know we can succeed."

These statements will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this tournament want to hear.

During the last week a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this success coming after success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one point.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.

It was in the semi-finals they left last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.

So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wished she had played with the discomfort.

However although she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have postponed thoughts of retirement, this tournament is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as leader.

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