The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and once went nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a team that has accomplished all there is.
- Healy's Century Assists Australia to Record Chase
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
- Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers
The fact it required up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over five decades.
It's difficult for their hitters to hold a record if not afforded the possibility.
Finally, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to create her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Many contend the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was considerably tougher to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've observed me in training, it was a challenging time because it seemed I've had no rhythm at all," said Healy.
"But once you step out on the field, your fighting spirit activate and you completely engage with the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
A single came off the opening delivery and from there Healy was on her way.
"A chance to take the field and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, somewhat inspired me," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.
Once she was dismissed the team required another 66 at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the assurance to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we believe we can succeed."
Those words will be the last competing nations at this tournament want to hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph following success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
However although she later admitted those injuries have pushed back plans to retire, this World Cup is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a global event as skipper.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.