The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground.
The greatest achievements have already been conquered.
This is the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the record chasers, are all that remain for a side that has accomplished all there is.
- Healy's Century Assists Australia to Unprecedented Chase
- ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
- Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers
The fact it required as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the pitchers that have represented Australia over five decades.
It is hard for their batters to possess a record if never given the possibility.
Ultimately, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a chance to produce her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her debut and seven global championships have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted 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 scored 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Some will argue the reasoning behind final game tension. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was far harder to see coming.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this innings was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it was a challenging time because it seemed I've had no rhythm at all," stated Healy.
"However when you step out on the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and from that point Healy was underway.
"An opportunity to play and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
By the time she was removed the team needed 66 more at run per delivery - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the confidence to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, should it happen, we are confident we can do it."
Those words will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this championship should hear.
During the last week a feeling they will win from any position has grown stronger - this success 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 a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
But while she afterwards confessed those injuries have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this championship is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a global event as leader.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.