Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.

Media Caption: Healy Guides Historic Pursuit as The Aussies Defeat India

It's difficult for Australia to break new ground.

The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.

We're talking about the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, those for the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a team that has accomplished all there is.

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It needed as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.

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

Finally, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her most recent brilliance.

Originally famous as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.

A T20 championship victory came three months after her bow and seven global championships have followed from 10 efforts across formats.

The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.

That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not fail again.

Whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.

Certain people claim the case for final game tension. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What is certain is this ton was far harder to predict.

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"If you've been watching me in training, it's been a disappointing period because I feel like my form was missing whatsoever," commented Healy.

"But once you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit take over and you simply focus on the match."

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

Healy's competitiveness has always been her great strength - and a priceless quality in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's spark.

A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the batsman was in motion.

"The possibility to play and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself that way, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.

By the time she was out the team needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.

"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the belief to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.

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

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

During the last week a feeling they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this triumph coming after win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.

It was in the semi-finals they left last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a major tournament.

Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated through the pain.

Yet even as she later admitted those fitness problems have postponed plans to retire, this World Cup is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a global event as captain.

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

Holly Copeland
Holly Copeland

A passionate content strategist with over a decade of experience in diversity-focused writing and digital accessibility advocacy.