🔗 Share this article

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

The greatest achievements have long been mastered.

We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and once went over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, are what's still available for a side that has won it all.

• Healy's Century Assists Australia to Unprecedented Chase
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers

It needed until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.

It's challenging for their batters to hold a record if not afforded the chance.

In the end, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to deliver her newest gem.

Then best known as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.

A T20 championship victory happened three months after her debut and seven world titles have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.

The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the winning streak.

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

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

Whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.

Some will argue the reasoning behind final game tension. Different voices suggest 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 far harder to anticipate.

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this innings followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.

"For those following me in the nets, it has been a disappointing period because I feel like I've had no rhythm whatsoever," commented Healy.

"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive nature activate and you simply focus on the competition."

Healy's competitive nature has always been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.

A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from there the batsman was in motion.

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

She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.

By the time she was dismissed Australia needed 66 more at one run per ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I am glad we have the belief to achieve that now," stated Healy further.

"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if we do, we are confident we can succeed."

These statements will be the last rival teams at this championship should hear.

During the last week a belief they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this triumph coming after success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.

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

During that phase they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at an important competition.

So great is her will, she later said she regretted not playing despite the injury.

However although she later admitted those injuries have postponed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is expected to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as captain.

Success in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.