The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.

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

The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.

We're talking about the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a team that has achieved everything.

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

The fact it required up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.

It is hard for their hitters to possess a record if not afforded the chance.

In the end, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her newest gem.

Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.

A T20 World Cup win came three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have resulted from 10 tries across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the winning streak.

That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.

At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fall short again.

Whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.

Certain people claim the case for the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's definite is this hundred was far harder to anticipate.

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 failed to pass 30.

"If you've observed me in training, it was a disappointing period because it appeared I lacked timing completely," commented Healy.

"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive nature take over and you simply focus on the competition."

Healy's competitiveness has always been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last 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 batsman was on her way.

"A chance to go out there and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.

Once she was dismissed the team needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.

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

"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, should it happen, we believe we can achieve it."

These statements will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this tournament want to hear.

In recent days a feeling they will win from any position has become more firm - this victory following victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.

During that phase they left last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.

Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wished she had played with the discomfort.

However although she afterwards confessed those injuries have delayed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is likely to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as captain.

Success in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.