🔗 Share this article

It's difficult for Australia to set fresh records.

The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.

This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, targeted by the record chasers, are what's still available for a side that has won it all.

• Healy's Ton Helps Australia to Historic Pursuit
• ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers

That it took up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.

It is hard for their batters to hold a record if not afforded the chance.

In the end, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to produce her newest gem.

Then best known as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.

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

The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.

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

At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.

If this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.

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

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

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.

"For those following me in practice sessions, it has been a disappointing period because it appeared my form was missing at all," said Healy.

"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you simply focus on the match."

Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's spark.

One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from there the right-hander was in motion.

"The possibility to play and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," stated Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.

By the time she was dismissed her side required another 66 at one run per ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the belief to do that now," stated Healy further.

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

Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this World Cup need to hear.

Over the past five days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this triumph following victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one point.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.

It was at that stage they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a major tournament.

Such is her determination, she later said she wanted to have participated through the pain.

But while she afterwards confessed those physical issues have postponed plans to retire, this World Cup is expected to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as leader.

Success in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.