The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are all that remain for a team that has achieved everything.
- Healy's Century Assists Australia to Historic Pursuit
- ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
- Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers
That it took until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It is hard for their batters to possess a record if not afforded the opportunity.
In the end, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have resulted from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings 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 facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this ton was much more difficult to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this knock was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it was a disappointing period because it appeared my form was missing completely," said Healy.
"However when you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her great strength - and a priceless quality in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off the opening delivery and from there the right-hander was underway.
"An opportunity to go out there and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun that way, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
By the time she was dismissed the team required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the confidence to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if necessary, we are confident we can achieve it."
That comment will be the last Australia's opponents at this tournament should hear.
During the last week a sense they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this victory coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.
During that phase they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she later said she regretted not playing through the pain.
But while she afterwards confessed those injuries have delayed thoughts of retirement, this championship is likely to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as skipper.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.