🔗 Share this article

It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The highest peaks have already been conquered.

This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, those for the peak baggers, are the only things left for a squad that has achieved everything.

• Healy's Ton Assists Australia to Record Chase
• ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers

That it took as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.

It's challenging for their batsmen to maintain a record if not afforded the chance.

Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy being given a chance to create her latest masterpiece.

Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex 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 experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.

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

The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the run of success.

That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.

At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.

Whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort is debatable.

Some will argue the case for final game tension. Others can counter with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's clear is this hundred was considerably tougher to anticipate.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.

"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it was a frustrating experience because I feel like I lacked timing at all," commented Healy.

"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit take over and you simply focus on the contest."

Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.

One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from there the right-hander was underway.

"An opportunity to play and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself that way, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.

By the time she was removed Australia needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.

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

"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, should it happen, we believe we can do it."

That comment will be the last Australia's opponents at this World Cup should hear.

Over the past five days a feeling they will win from any position has become more firm - this triumph following success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.

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 well be secure.

It was at that stage they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a major tournament.

Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wished she had played through the pain.

Yet even as she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have postponed plans to retire, this World Cup is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a global event as skipper.

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