Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.

Video Description: Healy Guides Historic Pursuit as Australia Beat India

It's a challenge for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.

The top summits have been successfully scaled.

We're talking about the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and once went over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

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

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That it took up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.

It's difficult for their batsmen to hold a record if not afforded the opportunity.

Finally, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to create her most recent brilliance.

Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.

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

The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.

That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.

At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not come up short.

The question of whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.

Some will argue the case for final game tension. Some might respond with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What's clear is this century was much more difficult to anticipate.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this knock followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"For those following me in the nets, it was a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing completely," stated Healy.

"However when you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit activate and you simply focus on the match."

Video Description: 'Fantastic' Healy Makes 142 to Assist Australia Complete Record Run Chase

Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's spark.

A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the batsman was in motion.

"The possibility to go out there and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.

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

Once she was dismissed her side needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the confidence to accomplish that now," continued Healy.

"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, should it happen, we believe we can achieve it."

Those words will be the last Australia's opponents at this World Cup want to hear.

Over the past five days a feeling they will win from any position has only strengthened - this victory coming after win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.

During that phase they left last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a significant event.

So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated through the pain.

Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this tournament is anticipated as her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as leader.

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

Rhonda Webb
Rhonda Webb

A tech journalist with over a decade of experience covering AI, cybersecurity, and digital transformation across global industries.