🔗 Share this article

It's difficult for Australia to set fresh records.

The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.

This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a squad that has won it all.

• Healy's Hundred Helps Australia to Unprecedented Chase
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers

It needed until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over five decades.

It's challenging for their hitters to possess a record if not provided the opportunity.

Ultimately, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to create her most recent brilliance.

Then best known as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her bow and seven world titles have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.

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

That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.

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 guaranteed her country would not fail again.

The question of whether this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display is debatable.

Many contend the case for the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

What's clear is this hundred was considerably tougher to see coming.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"If you've been watching me in the nets, it's been a frustrating experience because it seemed I lacked timing completely," stated Healy.

"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive nature take over and you simply focus on the match."

Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.

A single came off the opening delivery and from there Healy was on her way.

"An opportunity to go out there and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.

When she was out the team needed 66 more at one run per ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the confidence to achieve that now," added Healy.

"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if we do, we know we can succeed."

Those words will be the final thing competing nations at this tournament need to hear.

In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph coming after success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one point.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.

During that phase they exited 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 captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.

So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.

However although she later admitted those fitness problems have delayed plans to retire, this tournament is anticipated as her last as captain 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 last major obstacle.