🔗 Share this article

It's difficult for Australia to set fresh records.

The top summits have been successfully scaled.

We're talking about the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a squad that has achieved everything.

• Healy's Ton Assists Australia to Record Chase
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
• Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers

It needed up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.

It's challenging for their batters to hold a record if not provided the opportunity.

In the end, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to produce her most recent brilliance.

Initially recognized as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.

A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her debut and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 tries across formats.

The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.

That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not come up short.

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

Certain people claim the argument supporting final game tension. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

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

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this performance came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.

"If you've been watching me in the nets, it was a challenging time because I feel like I lacked timing completely," commented Healy.

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

Healy's competitive nature has always been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.

A single was taken off the opening delivery and after that the right-hander was on her way.

"The possibility to play and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.

When she was out Australia required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the confidence to accomplish that now," added Healy.

"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."

These statements will be the last competing nations at this championship should hear.

Over the past five days a belief they will win from any position has grown stronger - this success coming after win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.

It was at that stage they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.

So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated through the pain.

But while she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have delayed thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a global event as skipper.

Victory in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.