🔗 Share this article

It's difficult for Australia to set fresh records.

The top summits have been successfully scaled.

This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, targeted by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a team that has won it all.

• Healy's Hundred Helps Australia to Historic Pursuit
• ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
• Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers

It needed up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.

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

Finally, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece.

Initially recognized as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.

A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her bow and seven global championships have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the run of success.

That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not fail again.

The question of whether this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display is debatable.

Many contend the reasoning behind final game tension. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

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

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've observed me in the nets, it has been a frustrating experience because it seemed I lacked timing at all," said Healy.

"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive instincts activate and you simply focus on the competition."

Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.

A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from that point Healy was in motion.

"A chance to take the field and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself that way, somewhat inspired me," said Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.

By the time she was dismissed her side needed 66 additional runs 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 accomplish that now," added Healy.

"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."

That comment will be the last competing nations at this championship should hear.

Over the past five days a sense they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this triumph following victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.

It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at an important competition.

So strong is her resolve, she later said she regretted not playing despite the injury.

However although she later admitted those injuries have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this tournament is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a global event as skipper.

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