The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, targeted by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a squad that has achieved everything.
- Healy's Hundred Helps Australia to Record Chase
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
- Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & 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, taking back their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's challenging for their hitters to possess a record if never given the opportunity.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her debut and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
The question of whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort is debatable.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was far harder to see coming.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this innings was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in the nets, it has been a disappointing period because I feel like I lacked timing at all," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts activate and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her key asset - and a priceless quality in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from there the right-hander was underway.
"A chance to go out there and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was removed Australia required another 66 at run per delivery - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the confidence to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we know we can achieve it."
These statements will be the final thing competing nations at this championship need to hear.
In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this victory following success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling 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 place may likely be confirmed.
During that phase 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 led her country for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she wished she had played despite the injury.
Yet even as she later admitted those fitness problems have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is expected to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as leader.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.