🔗 Share this article

It's a challenge for the Australian squad to break new ground.

The top summits have long been mastered.

We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are what's still available for a side that has achieved everything.

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

It needed up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.

It's challenging for their hitters to hold a record if never given the chance.

Ultimately, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting a platform to deliver her most recent brilliance.

Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.

A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her debut and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats.

The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the winning streak.

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

At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fall short again.

The question of whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort can be debated.

Certain people claim the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

What's definite is this hundred was far harder to anticipate.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.

"For those following me in training, it was a frustrating experience because I feel like I lacked timing whatsoever," said Healy.

"But once you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit take over and you completely engage with the match."

Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her great strength - and a priceless quality in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

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

A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the batsman was in motion.

"The possibility to play and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself that way, kind of motivated me," said Healy.

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

By the time she was dismissed Australia required another 66 at run per delivery - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the assurance to do that now," stated Healy further.

"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if we do, we believe we can achieve it."

Those words will be the final thing competing nations at this championship should hear.

In recent days a belief they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this triumph succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.

It was in the semi-finals they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.

Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wished she had played despite the injury.

But while she later admitted those physical issues have postponed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as leader.

Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.