🔗 Share this article

It's difficult for Australia to set fresh records.

The highest peaks have long been mastered.

This is the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a squad that has won it all.

• Healy's Ton Helps Australia to Unprecedented Chase
• ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
• Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers

The fact it required up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the last half-century.

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

In the end, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting a platform to produce her latest masterpiece.

Then best known as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.

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

The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the successful run.

That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not fail again.

The question of whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort can be debated.

Some will argue the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Some might respond with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What's definite is this century was much more difficult to anticipate.

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

"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it was a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing at all," stated Healy.

"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive nature take over and you simply focus on the competition."

Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.

One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the batsman was underway.

"An opportunity to go out there and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun that way, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.

Once she was removed Australia needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.

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

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

These statements will be the last competing nations at this tournament want to hear.

Over the past five days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this triumph succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.

During that phase they left last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss 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 major tournament.

So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.

However although she later admitted those fitness problems have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this championship is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as leader.

Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.