Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
This is the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and once went nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, targeted by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a team that has accomplished all there is.
- Healy's Ton Aids Australia to Record Chase
- ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
- Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers
It needed as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.
It is hard for their hitters to possess a record if not afforded the opportunity.
Finally, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting a platform to produce her newest gem.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her debut and seven international trophies have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not come up short.
If this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind championship match pressure. 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 ton was much more difficult to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this innings was preceded by six games 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 was a disappointing period because I feel like my form was missing at all," said Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts take over and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and after that the batsman was underway.
"A chance to play and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
By the time she was out the team needed 66 more at run per delivery - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the assurance to do that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if we do, we believe we can achieve it."
Those words will be the last rival teams at this World Cup should hear.
During the last week a sense they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this triumph following success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wished she had played through the pain.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have delayed plans to retire, this World Cup is likely to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as leader.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.