🔗 Share this article

It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The top summits have been successfully scaled.

We're talking about the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, targeted by the peak baggers, are all that remain for a side that has accomplished all there is.

• Healy's Century Aids Australia to Historic Pursuit
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers

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

It is hard for their batters to maintain a record if never given the chance.

In the end, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to create her latest masterpiece.

Then best known 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 seen it all through 15 successful years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have come from 10 tries across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the successful run.

That loss "drove 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 ensured her country would not fail again.

If this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.

Many contend the argument supporting championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's definite is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this performance came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"For those following me in training, it has been a challenging time because it appeared I lacked timing at all," said Healy.

"However when you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you just lock into the contest."

Healy's competitiveness has always been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.

One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the right-hander was on her way.

"A chance to play and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, sort of got me going," said Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.

When she was removed her side needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.

"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the assurance to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.

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

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

In recent days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this success following victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one point.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.

It was at that stage they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a major tournament.

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

However although she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a global event as skipper.

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