Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for Australia to set fresh records.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are all that remain for a team that has accomplished all there is.
- Healy's Century Helps Australia to Record Chase
- ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
- Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers
That it took until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's challenging for their batsmen to hold a record if not afforded the opportunity.
In the end, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to create her newest gem.
Then best known as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her bow and seven international trophies have followed from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fail again.
If this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Some will argue the reasoning behind final game tension. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was far harder to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this performance was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in the nets, it was a disappointing period because I feel like I've had no rhythm completely," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you just lock into the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and after that the batsman was on her way.
"A chance to take the field and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
By the time she was dismissed the team required another 66 at run per delivery - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the assurance to do that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we believe we can achieve it."
That comment will be the last rival teams at this championship should hear.
In recent days a belief they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this victory succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
But while she later admitted those injuries have delayed plans to retire, this World Cup is anticipated as her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as leader.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.