The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.

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

The greatest achievements have already been conquered.

This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are all that remain for a squad that has won it all.

• Healy's Century Aids Australia to Historic Pursuit
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
• Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers

It needed up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.

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

In the end, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her most recent brilliance.

Originally famous as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.

A T20 championship victory happened three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.

The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the successful run.

That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final 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 can be debated.

Many contend the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What's definite is this century was much more difficult to see coming.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this performance came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it has been a disappointing period because I feel like I've had no rhythm at all," commented Healy.

"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts activate and you completely engage with the competition."

Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.

One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from there the batsman was underway.

"A chance to go out there and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun that way, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.

By the time she was dismissed Australia needed 66 more at one run per ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm pleased we have the confidence to do that now," added Healy.

"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if we do, we are confident we can achieve it."

These statements will be the final thing rival teams at this championship should hear.

In recent days a sense they will win from any position has become more firm - this success coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one stage.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.

It was in the semi-finals they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a major tournament.

So strong is her resolve, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.

Yet even as she afterwards confessed those physical issues have delayed thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is likely to be her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as leader.

Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.