Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.

Video Description: Healy Guides Historic Pursuit as Australia Overcome India

It's difficult for Australia to break new ground.

The highest peaks have already been conquered.

We're talking about the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, those for the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a team that has achieved everything.

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The fact it required up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.

It's difficult for their hitters to hold a record if never given the chance.

Finally, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to produce her newest gem.

Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her debut and seven international trophies have followed from 10 efforts across formats.

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

That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fail again.

The question of whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.

Many contend the case for final game tension. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.

The Christchurch carnage 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 not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it was a disappointing period because it seemed my form was missing completely," said Healy.

"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive instincts activate and you just lock into the contest."

Media Caption: 'Fantastic' Healy Hits 142 to Help Australia Complete Record Run Chase

Healy's fighting spirit has always been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.

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

"The possibility to take the field and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.

By the time she was removed her side needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.

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

"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we are confident we can do it."

These statements will be the last Australia's opponents at this tournament need to hear.

Over the past five days a belief they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this triumph succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.

It was at that stage they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a significant event.

So great is her will, she later said she wished she had played despite the injury.

But while she later admitted those fitness problems have delayed consideration of ending her career, this championship is likely to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as skipper.

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

Evan Edwards
Evan Edwards

Maya Chen is a tech journalist and product reviewer with over a decade of experience covering consumer electronics and emerging technologies.