🔗 Share this article

It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.

The top summits have long been mastered.

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

The remaining milestones, those for the record chasers, are what's still available for a squad that has won it all.

• Healy's Century Assists Australia to Record Chase
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers

It needed as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the last half-century.

It's difficult for their batsmen to maintain a record if not afforded the chance.

In the end, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to create her latest masterpiece.

Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.

A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.

The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the successful run.

That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.

The question of whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display is debatable.

Certain people claim the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What's clear is this ton was much more difficult to anticipate.

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this performance came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.

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

"However when you take the field, your competitive instincts take over and you simply focus on the contest."

Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.

One run resulted off the opening delivery and from there the right-hander was underway.

"The possibility to play and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.

Once she was dismissed Australia needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.

"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the assurance to do that now," continued Healy.

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

Those words will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this tournament want to hear.

In recent days a sense they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this success following success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.

During that phase they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.

Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.

However although she later admitted those fitness problems have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as captain.

Victory in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.