Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
We're talking about the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, those for the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has achieved everything.
- Healy's Hundred Helps Australia to Historic Pursuit
- ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
- Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers
The fact it required up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their hitters to possess a record if never given the possibility.
Ultimately, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to create her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort can be debated.
Certain people claim the case for the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in the nets, it was a disappointing period because I feel like I lacked timing completely," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from there the right-hander was in motion.
"An opportunity to play and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
Once she was dismissed the team needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the confidence to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we are confident we can do it."
That comment will be the last competing nations at this tournament want to hear.
In recent days a feeling they will win from any position has become more firm - this success following success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion 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 World Cup is expected to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as skipper.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.