The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the record chasers, are what's still available for a team that has won it all.
- Healy's Ton Assists Australia to Historic Pursuit
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
- Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers
It needed up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batsmen to maintain a record if not provided the possibility.
Finally, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former 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 seen it all through 15 successful years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her bow and seven world titles have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not come up short.
If this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort is debatable.
Some will argue the case for final game tension. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this knock followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it was a frustrating experience because I feel like my form was missing at all," commented Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive nature kick in and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and from there the right-hander was in motion.
"The possibility to play and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was removed Australia required another 66 at run per delivery - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the assurance to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup should hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this victory following win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they exited last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wished she had played with the discomfort.
However although she later admitted those injuries have pushed back plans to retire, this tournament is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as captain.
Victory in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.