The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground.
The top summits have already been conquered.
This is the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the record chasers, are what's still available for a team that has accomplished all there is.
- Healy's Ton Helps Australia to Historic Pursuit
- ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
- Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers
That it took up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's difficult for their batsmen to possess a record if not provided the opportunity.
In the end, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a platform to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her bow and seven world titles have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
If this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Many contend the case for final game tension. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this century was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"For those following me in the nets, it has been a challenging time because I feel like I lacked timing whatsoever," said Healy.
"But once you step out on the field, your competitive nature kick in and you just lock into the match."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the batsman was underway.
"An opportunity to go out there and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
Once she was out her side needed 66 more at run per delivery - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the belief to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if we do, we believe we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing competing nations at this World Cup should hear.
During the last week a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this success coming after success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals 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 left the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a significant event.
So great is her will, she later said she wished she had played despite the injury.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have delayed thoughts of retirement, this tournament is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as leader.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.
