🔗 Share this article

It's difficult for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The greatest achievements have long been mastered.

This is the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, those for the peak baggers, are all that remain for a team that has achieved everything.

• Healy's Hundred Helps Australia to Historic Pursuit
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
• Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers

It needed as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.

It's challenging for their batsmen to hold a record if not provided the chance.

In the end, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to deliver her newest gem.

Then best known as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.

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

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

That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.

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

Whether this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display can be debated.

Certain people claim the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's definite is this century was considerably tougher to predict.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it has been a challenging time because it appeared I lacked timing whatsoever," stated Healy.

"But once you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit activate and you completely engage with the contest."

Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

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

A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and after that the right-hander was in motion.

"A chance to take the field and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, kind of motivated me," said Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.

By the time she was removed the team needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the belief to accomplish that now," added Healy.

"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, should it happen, we are confident we can achieve it."

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

In recent days a belief they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this victory following victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.

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

It was in the semi-finals they exited last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at an important competition.

Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wished she had played through the pain.

Yet even as she later admitted those physical issues have postponed plans to retire, this championship is likely to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as skipper.

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