The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground.
The highest peaks have already been conquered.
This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a side that has achieved everything.
- Healy's Ton Assists Australia to Unprecedented Chase
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
- Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers
That it took up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their batters to possess a record if not afforded the possibility.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to create her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation didn't secure 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 happened three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have followed from 10 efforts across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display is debatable.
Some will argue the case for championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's clear is this century was far harder to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this performance 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 the nets, it was a challenging time because it seemed I lacked timing whatsoever," said Healy.
"However when you take the field, your competitive nature kick in and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her key asset - and a priceless quality in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from there the right-hander was underway.
"The possibility to go out there and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 as she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was out Australia needed 66 more at run per delivery - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the belief to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing competing nations at this World Cup want to hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this triumph succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wished she had played despite the injury.
However although she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have postponed thoughts of retirement, this tournament is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as leader.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.