🔗 Share this article

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

The top summits have been successfully scaled.

This is the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

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

• Healy's Century Assists Australia to Record Chase
• ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers

It needed up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.

It's difficult for their batsmen to hold a record if not provided the possibility.

Ultimately, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to deliver her most recent brilliance.

Originally famous as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have resulted from 10 tries across formats.

The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the successful run.

That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.

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

Whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort can be debated.

Certain people claim the reasoning behind final game tension. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

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

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this knock came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"For those following me in training, it was a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm whatsoever," stated Healy.

"But once you take the field, your competitive nature activate and you simply focus on the match."

Healy's fighting spirit has always been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.

A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from that point Healy was in motion.

"An opportunity to go out there and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.

When she was removed her side needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the confidence to do that now," added Healy.

"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, should it happen, we believe we can do it."

Those words will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this World Cup should hear.

During the last week a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at one point.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.

During that phase they exited last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.

So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated despite the injury.

However although she later admitted those fitness problems have postponed consideration of ending her career, this championship is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as leader.

Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.