The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
This is the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and once went over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the peak baggers, 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 - Matches, Results & Statistics
- Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers
It needed as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batsmen to maintain a record if not provided the opportunity.
Ultimately, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have resulted from 10 tries across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Many contend the reasoning behind final game tension. Some might respond with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was far harder to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in training, it's been a frustrating experience because it seemed my form was missing completely," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit kick in and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her great strength - and a priceless quality in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and from that point the right-hander was on her way.
"The possibility to play and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
When she was out the team needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the belief to do that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if we do, we are confident we can succeed."
Those words will be the final thing competing nations at this championship need to hear.
During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this success following win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she later said she wished she had played despite the injury.
Yet even as she later admitted those physical issues have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is expected to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as captain.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.