Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, are all that remain for a side that has accomplished all there is.
- Healy's Century Assists Australia to Unprecedented Chase
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
- Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers
That it took until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It is hard for their hitters to maintain a record if not provided the opportunity.
Finally, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to create her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country failed to win 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 bow and seven international trophies have come from 10 tries across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," 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 made sure her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Certain people claim the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was considerably tougher to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've observed me in training, it has been a disappointing period because I feel like I lacked timing completely," stated Healy.
"However when you step out on the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you completely engage with the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from there Healy was underway.
"An opportunity to take the field and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.
By the time she was removed her side needed 66 more at run per delivery - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the belief to do that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, should it happen, we believe we can succeed."
These statements will be the last rival teams at this World Cup want to hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this victory coming after success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wished she had played with the discomfort.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have delayed thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as skipper.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.