The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.

Media Caption: Healy Leads Record Chase as Australia Beat India

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

The top summits have already been conquered.

This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, targeted by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a team that has achieved everything.

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That it took up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the last half-century.

It is hard for their hitters to hold a record if not provided the chance.

Ultimately, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her most recent brilliance.

Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the run of success.

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

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 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.

Some will argue the case for championship match pressure. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What is certain is this ton was much more difficult to predict.

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this innings followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"If you've observed me in training, it has been a frustrating experience because it appeared I lacked timing at all," stated Healy.

"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts take over and you simply focus on the contest."

Media Caption: 'Excellent' Healy Makes 142 to Aid Australia Complete Record Run Chase

Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

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

A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from there the right-hander was on her way.

"The possibility to go out there and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, sort of got me going," stated Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.

By the time she was dismissed the team required another 66 at run per delivery - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.

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

"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we believe we can achieve it."

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

During the last week a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.

During that phase they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of ruptured 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 wished she had played through the pain.

But while she afterwards confessed those physical issues have delayed thoughts of retirement, this tournament is likely to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as skipper.

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

Kristina Harrington
Kristina Harrington

A technology journalist and digital strategist with over a decade of experience covering emerging tech trends and innovations.