The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for Australia to set fresh records.
The top summits have long been mastered.
We're talking about the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and once went over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a squad that has won it all.
- Healy's Ton Helps Australia to Record Chase
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
- Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers
The fact it required as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It is hard for their batters to hold a record if never given the chance.
In the end, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given a chance to create her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her debut and seven global championships have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the following one-day championship 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.
If this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Many contend the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was far harder to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this innings followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it's been a disappointing period because it seemed I lacked timing completely," said Healy.
"But once you step out on the field, your competitive nature take over and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the right-hander was on her way.
"A chance to play and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
By the time she was removed Australia needed 66 more at one run per ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the belief to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, if we do, we are confident we can succeed."
These statements will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup want to hear.
During the last week a belief they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this triumph coming after success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.
It was at that stage they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a significant event.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have postponed thoughts of retirement, this championship is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.