The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The greatest achievements have already been conquered.
We're talking about the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and once went nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has achieved everything.
- Healy's Hundred Assists Australia to Unprecedented Chase
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
- Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers
It needed up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their batters to hold a record if never given the chance.
In the end, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to produce her most recent brilliance.
Then best known as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country 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 arrived three months after her bow and seven global championships have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
Whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the case for the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this ton was far harder to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this knock was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in the nets, it's been a disappointing period because it seemed I lacked timing at all," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the batsman was on her way.
"The possibility to play and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself that way, somewhat inspired me," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 as she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
Once she was removed the team needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the assurance to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, if necessary, we believe we can succeed."
Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this championship want to hear.
In recent days a feeling they will win from any position has only strengthened - this triumph succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one point.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.
During that phase they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have pushed back plans to retire, this championship is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as leader.
Victory in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.
