🔗 Share this article

It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground.

The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.

This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are all that remain for a squad that has accomplished all there is.

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

The fact it required as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.

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

Finally, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a platform to create her most recent brilliance.

Initially recognized as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her bow and seven global championships have followed from 10 attempts across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the winning streak.

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

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.

Whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.

Certain people claim the case for the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's definite is this hundred was considerably tougher to anticipate.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"For those following me in the nets, it's been a disappointing period because it appeared I lacked timing at all," said Healy.

"However when you step out on the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you simply focus on the match."

Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but here that only provided Healy's spark.

A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the right-hander was on her way.

"An opportunity to take the field and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, sort of got me going," stated Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.

When she was removed Australia needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the assurance to do that now," added Healy.

"Hopefully we don't have 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 feeling they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this triumph coming after win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.

It was in the semi-finals they exited the prior 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 captained her nation for the first time at a major tournament.

So strong is her resolve, she later said she wished she had played with the discomfort.

Yet even as she later admitted those fitness problems have delayed plans to retire, this tournament is expected to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as leader.

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