🔗 Share this article

It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground.

The top summits have been successfully scaled.

This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, those for the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a side that has achieved everything.

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

That it took until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.

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

In the end, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given a chance to deliver her latest masterpiece.

Originally famous as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.

A T20 World Cup win came three months after her bow and seven world titles have come from 10 efforts across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the run of success.

That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.

At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not fail again.

The question of whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.

Many contend the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

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

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this knock came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"For those following me in practice sessions, it has been a challenging time because I feel like I lacked timing whatsoever," said Healy.

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

Healy's fighting spirit has always been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.

A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and after that Healy was underway.

"The possibility to go out there and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, sort of got me going," commented Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.

Once she was dismissed her side needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the assurance to do that now," continued Healy.

"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can do it."

That comment will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this tournament want to hear.

Over the past five days a sense they will win from any position has become more firm - this success following success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.

It was in the semi-finals they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at an important competition.

So strong is her resolve, she later said she wanted to have participated through the pain.

Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have postponed plans to retire, this championship is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as captain.

Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.