🔗 Share this article

It's tough for Australia to set fresh records.

The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.

This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a team that has achieved everything.

• Healy's Hundred Aids Australia to Historic Pursuit
• ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
• Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers

The fact it required up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.

It's difficult for their hitters to hold a record if not provided the chance.

Finally, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to create her latest masterpiece.

Then best known as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her debut and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 tries across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.

That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not come up short.

Whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.

Some will argue the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's definite is this ton was much more difficult to predict.

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this performance followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"For those following me in the nets, it has been a frustrating experience because it appeared I lacked timing whatsoever," said Healy.

"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive nature kick in and you simply focus on the match."

Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her key asset - and a priceless quality in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

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

One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and after that the batsman was on her way.

"A chance to go out there and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.

When she was removed Australia required another 66 at one run per ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.

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

"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we are confident we can achieve it."

Those words will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this World Cup should hear.

Over the past five days a sense they will win from any position has become more firm - this success coming after win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one stage.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.

It was at that stage 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 an important competition.

So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated through the pain.

Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this tournament is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as captain.

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