Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The top summits have already been conquered.
We're talking about the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and once went nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are the only things left for a team that has won it all.
- Healy's Century Assists Australia to Record Chase
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
- Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers
It needed up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their batters to hold a record if not afforded the chance.
Ultimately, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not come up short.
Whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this century was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this performance 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 my form was missing at all," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and after that the right-hander was in motion.
"The possibility to play and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.
When she was out Australia needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the assurance to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if we do, we are confident we can succeed."
These statements will be the last competing nations at this tournament want to hear.
During the last week a sense they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this success following victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they exited last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated through the pain.
Yet even as she later admitted those physical issues have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this championship is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as leader.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.