🔗 Share this article

It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The top summits have been successfully scaled.

We're talking about the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are all that remain for a squad that has won it all.

• Healy's Century Helps Australia to Historic Pursuit
• ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers

It needed as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.

It's challenging for their batters to hold a record if not afforded the chance.

Ultimately, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to deliver her newest gem.

Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.

A T20 World Cup win came three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have followed from 10 tries across formats.

The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.

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

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fall short again.

Whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.

Some will argue the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this performance followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it has been a challenging time because it appeared I lacked timing at all," commented Healy.

"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive nature take over and you completely engage with the competition."

Healy's competitive nature has always been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.

A single came off the opening delivery and after that Healy was in motion.

"An opportunity to go out there and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself that way, kind of motivated me," said Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.

By the time she was removed the team required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.

"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the assurance to achieve that now," stated Healy further.

"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we believe we can do it."

Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this World Cup need to hear.

During the last week a sense they will win from any position has grown stronger - this triumph succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.

It was at that stage they exited last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a major tournament.

Such is her determination, she later said she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.

However although she afterwards confessed those injuries have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this tournament is expected to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a global event as captain.

Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.