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

Video Description: Healy Leads Record Chase as The Aussies Defeat India

It's tough for Australia to set fresh records.

The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.

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

The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a squad that has achieved everything.

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It needed up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.

It's challenging for their batsmen to maintain a record if never given the chance.

Finally, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to deliver her most recent brilliance.

Then best known as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.

A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her debut and seven world titles have come from 10 efforts across formats.

The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the successful run.

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

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

The question of whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.

Some will argue the argument supporting championship match pressure. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What's clear is this century was considerably tougher to anticipate.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this innings 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 the nets, it was a disappointing period because I feel like I lacked timing completely," said Healy.

"But once you step out on the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you completely engage with the contest."

Video Description: 'Brilliant' Healy Scores 142 to Help Australia Complete Record Run Chase

Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.

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

"A chance to play and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.

Once she was dismissed the team needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the belief to achieve that now," continued Healy.

"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, should it happen, we believe we can succeed."

Those words will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this championship should hear.

In recent days a sense they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this success succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.

During that phase they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.

So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wished she had played through the pain.

Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have postponed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as skipper.

Victory in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.

Deanna Duncan
Deanna Duncan

Alex Harper is a journalist and urban enthusiast with a passion for uncovering the stories behind city landscapes.