Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have already been conquered.
This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and once went over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are all that remain for a squad that has won it all.
- Healy's Ton Helps Australia to Record Chase
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
- Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers
It needed until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their hitters to possess a record if not provided the possibility.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to deliver her newest gem.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her debut and seven global championships have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort is debatable.
Certain people claim the case for final game tension. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this ton was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this performance was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in training, it was a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm whatsoever," said Healy.
"However when you take the field, your competitive nature kick in and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and after that the right-hander was underway.
"The possibility to play and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
By the time she was out Australia needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the assurance to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we know we can succeed."
Those words will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this championship need to hear.
During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this success succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
Yet even as she later admitted those physical issues have postponed thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is anticipated as her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as captain.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.