Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.

Video Description: Healy Leads Record Chase as Australia Beat India

It's tough for Australia to set fresh records.

The top summits have already been conquered.

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

The remaining milestones, those for the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a side that has achieved everything.

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It needed until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.

It's difficult for their batters to possess a record if never given the opportunity.

Finally, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to produce her most recent brilliance.

Initially recognized as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her debut and seven global championships have come from 10 tries across formats.

The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.

That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier.

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 ensured her country would not come up short.

The question of whether this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.

Certain people claim the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

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

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it's been a challenging time because it appeared I lacked timing at all," commented Healy.

"But once you take the field, your competitive instincts take over and you completely engage with the contest."

Media Caption: 'Excellent' Healy Hits 142 to Aid Australia Complete Record Run Chase

Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.

A single came off the bowler's initial ball and after that the right-hander was underway.

"A chance to take the field and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.

When she was dismissed Australia required another 66 at one run per ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the assurance to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.

"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if necessary, we believe we can do it."

Those words will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this tournament want to hear.

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

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.

It was at that stage they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at an important competition.

So great is her will, she later said she regretted not playing with the discomfort.

However although she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have postponed thoughts of retirement, this championship is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as leader.

Success in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.

Maria Williams
Maria Williams

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