The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, those for the peak baggers, are the only things left for a squad that has achieved everything.
- Healy's Hundred Aids Australia to Record Chase
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
- Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers
It needed up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowlers that have represented Australia over five decades.
It is hard for their batsmen to maintain a record if never given the opportunity.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to deliver her newest gem.
Then best known as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort is debatable.
Many contend the reasoning behind final game tension. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this innings was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it's been a disappointing period because it seemed I've had no rhythm whatsoever," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive nature activate and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and from there Healy was on her way.
"The possibility to go out there and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun that way, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.
By the time she was out the team needed 66 additional runs 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," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, if necessary, we are confident we can achieve it."
Those words will be the last rival teams at this championship should hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this success succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing despite the injury.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those injuries have postponed plans to retire, this tournament is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.