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

Media Caption: Healy Leads Record Chase as The Aussies Defeat India

It's tough for Australia to set fresh records.

The top summits have been successfully scaled.

This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, targeted by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a team that has accomplished all there is.

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It needed up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.

It is hard for their batters to maintain a record if not provided the opportunity.

Finally, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to create her latest masterpiece.

Then best known as the teenage relative of famous ex 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 successful years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her debut and seven global championships have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the successful run.

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

At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not fall short again.

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

Many contend the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's clear is this hundred was far harder to predict.

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.

"If you've been watching me in training, it's been a disappointing period because it seemed I lacked timing whatsoever," stated Healy.

"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit kick in and you just lock into the contest."

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

Healy's fighting spirit has always been her key asset - and a priceless quality in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.

One run resulted off the opening delivery and from that point Healy was in motion.

"An opportunity to play and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself that way, kind of motivated me," said Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.

Once she was dismissed the team needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.

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

"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, if we do, we believe we can do it."

That comment will be the last rival teams at this championship should hear.

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

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.

It was at that stage they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.

Such is her determination, she later said she wished she had played through the pain.

Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this championship is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as skipper.

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

Gina Davis
Gina Davis

Eleanor is a British historian and writer specializing in UK culture and heritage.