🔗 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 secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a team that has accomplished all there is.

• Healy's Century Assists Australia to Historic Pursuit
• ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers

It needed up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.

It's challenging for their hitters to possess a record if never given the opportunity.

Ultimately, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to create her most recent brilliance.

Initially recognized as the teenage relative of renowned former 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 witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.

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

The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.

That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not come up short.

Whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.

Certain people claim the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

What is certain is this century was much more difficult to anticipate.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this performance came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"If you've observed me in the nets, it's been a disappointing period because it seemed my form was missing at all," commented Healy.

"But once you step out on the field, 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 famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's spark.

A single was taken off the opening delivery and from that point Healy was in motion.

"An opportunity to take the field and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, sort of got me going," stated Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.

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

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

"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if we do, we know we can achieve it."

Those words will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this championship want to hear.

In recent days a feeling they will win from any position has grown stronger - this victory coming after success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.

It was at that stage they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.

So great is her will, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing through the pain.

Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have pushed back plans to retire, this championship is anticipated as her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as skipper.

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