🔗 Share this article

It's difficult for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.

This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, targeted by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a team that has won it all.

• Healy's Hundred Helps Australia to Historic Pursuit
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
• Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers

That it took up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial 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 is hard for their hitters to maintain a record if not afforded the possibility.

Ultimately, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to produce her newest gem.

Then best known as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over 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 come from 10 attempts across formats.

The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.

That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not come up short.

The question of whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.

Some will argue the argument supporting championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What's clear is this hundred was far harder to predict.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"If you've observed me in training, it has been a frustrating experience because it appeared I lacked timing whatsoever," stated Healy.

"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you completely engage with the contest."

Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her great strength - and a priceless quality in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.

One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and after that the batsman was in motion.

"An opportunity to take the field and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.

When she was out her side needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.

"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the confidence to achieve that now," continued Healy.

"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if necessary, we are confident we can do it."

These statements will be the last Australia's opponents at this championship should hear.

Over the past five days a sense they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this triumph following win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.

During that phase they left last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at an important competition.

Such is her determination, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.

However although she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have delayed thoughts of retirement, this championship is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a global event as captain.

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