🔗 Share this article

It's difficult for Australia to break new ground.

The top summits have long been mastered.

This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are all that remain for a squad that has won it all.

• Healy's Ton Aids Australia to Unprecedented Chase
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers

It needed as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.

It's challenging for their hitters to maintain a record if never given the opportunity.

Finally, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to produce her latest masterpiece.

Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her bow and seven global championships 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 "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not fall short again.

If this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display is debatable.

Certain people claim the argument supporting championship match pressure. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

What is certain is this hundred was far harder to see coming.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've been watching me in the nets, it has been a disappointing period because it appeared my form was missing completely," said Healy.

"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit activate and you simply focus on the contest."

Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.

One run resulted off the opening delivery and from that point the right-hander was underway.

"The possibility to take the field and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.

When she was dismissed her side needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.

"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the belief to do that now," stated Healy further.

"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if necessary, we are confident we can do it."

Those words will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup need to hear.

During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this success succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.

It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at an important competition.

So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.

But while she later admitted those injuries have postponed thoughts of retirement, this tournament is likely to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as captain.

Success in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.