🔗 Share this article

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

The highest peaks have long been mastered.

This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six 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 the only things left for a team that has accomplished all there is.

• Healy's Hundred Helps Australia to Unprecedented Chase
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
• Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers

It needed as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.

It's difficult for their batters to maintain a record if not provided the chance.

Finally, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to produce her newest gem.

Originally famous as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.

A T20 World Cup win came three months after her bow and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 tries across formats.

The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the successful run.

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

At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.

The question of whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort can be debated.

Certain people claim the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What's definite is this ton was far harder to see coming.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this knock was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've been watching me in training, it was a frustrating experience because it seemed I've had no rhythm at all," commented Healy.

"However when you step out on the field, your competitive nature activate and you simply focus on the contest."

Healy's competitive nature has always been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.

A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the batsman was in motion.

"An opportunity to go out there and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.

By the time she was dismissed the team required another 66 at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.

"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the assurance to achieve that now," added Healy.

"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we are confident we can do it."

Those words will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this tournament need to hear.

Over the past five days a feeling they will win from any position has only strengthened - this victory coming after win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.

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

So great is her will, she later said she wished she had played with the discomfort.

However although she later admitted those physical issues have postponed plans to retire, this championship is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as leader.

Success in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.