🔗 Share this article

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

The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.

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

The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a team that has accomplished all there is.

• Healy's Ton Helps Australia to Record Chase
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
• Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers

The fact it required until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the last half-century.

It's challenging for their batsmen to maintain a record if never given the chance.

Finally, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to create her latest masterpiece.

Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her debut and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats.

The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.

That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.

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

Whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.

Many contend the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

What's clear is this century was much more difficult to see coming.

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this knock followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've been watching me in training, it has been a disappointing period because I feel like my form was missing at all," stated Healy.

"However when you take the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you completely engage with the competition."

Healy's fighting spirit has always been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

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

One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from there the batsman was underway.

"A chance to take the field and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.

Once she was dismissed the team required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I am glad we have the confidence to do that now," added Healy.

"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we are confident we can achieve it."

These statements will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup should hear.

Over the past five days a sense they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this victory following victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.

During that phase they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a major tournament.

So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.

Yet even as she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this championship is likely to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper.

Victory in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.