Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.

Media Caption: Healy Guides Historic Pursuit as Australia Overcome India

It's difficult for Australia to break new ground.

The greatest achievements have long been mastered.

This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and once went over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, are all that remain for a squad that has achieved everything.

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That it took up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.

It's challenging for their batsmen to hold a record if never given the possibility.

Ultimately, the result of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her most recent brilliance.

Originally famous as the young family member 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 seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.

A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have come from 10 attempts across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.

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

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not come up short.

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

Certain people claim the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's definite is this century was considerably tougher to predict.

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it's been a frustrating experience because it seemed I've had no rhythm at all," said Healy.

"But once you step out on the field, your fighting spirit take over and you just lock into the match."

Media Caption: 'Brilliant' Healy Makes 142 to Help Australia Complete Record Run Chase

Healy's competitive nature has always been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.

A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from there Healy was underway.

"A chance to go out there and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, kind of motivated me," said Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.

By the time she was dismissed Australia needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.

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

"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, if we do, we know we can achieve it."

That comment will be the final thing competing nations at this tournament should hear.

During the last week a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this victory following success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.

During that phase they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at an important competition.

So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wished she had played through the pain.

Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as skipper.

Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.

Alexis Mills
Alexis Mills

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