Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
This is the unit that has secured 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, targeted by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a side that has accomplished all there is.
- Healy's Century Assists Australia to Unprecedented Chase
- ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
- Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers
It needed until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.
It is hard for their batters to possess a record if not afforded the opportunity.
Finally, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to create her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her bow and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not come up short.
Whether this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the argument supporting championship match pressure. Some might respond with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was much more difficult to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this knock was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it has been a challenging time because it appeared I've had no rhythm completely," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive nature activate and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from that point Healy was in motion.
"An opportunity to go out there and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself that way, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
When she was dismissed Australia needed 66 more at run per delivery - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the belief to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if we do, we believe we can succeed."
These statements will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this tournament need to hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this triumph coming after win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they left last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at an important competition.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
However although she later admitted those physical issues have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as skipper.
Victory in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.