The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
We're talking about the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the record chasers, are what's still available for a squad that has accomplished all there is.
- Healy's Hundred Aids Australia to Record Chase
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
- Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers
The fact it required until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have represented Australia over five decades.
It's difficult for their batters to maintain a record if not provided the possibility.
In the end, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "motivated 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 declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
If this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display is debatable.
Certain people claim the case for final game tension. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was much more difficult to see coming.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this knock came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it has been a challenging time because it seemed I lacked timing whatsoever," commented Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive nature activate and you completely engage with the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from there the right-hander was on her way.
"An opportunity to take the field and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun that way, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
When she was removed her side needed 66 more at run per delivery - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the assurance to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, if necessary, we are confident we can do it."
Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this tournament should hear.
In recent days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this victory succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they left last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
But while she afterwards confessed those physical issues have postponed plans to retire, this tournament is likely to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as captain.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.