The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for Australia to set fresh records.
The greatest achievements have already been conquered.
We're talking about the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and once went over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, targeted by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a squad that has won it all.
- Healy's Ton Aids Australia to Unprecedented Chase
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
- Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers
The fact it required as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It's difficult for their batsmen to possess a record if never given the chance.
Finally, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation 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 championship victory arrived three months after her bow and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not come up short.
Whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Certain people claim the case for the pressure of a final. Some might respond 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 considerably tougher to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this knock came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in the nets, it has been a disappointing period because it appeared I lacked timing whatsoever," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your fighting spirit take over and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the right-hander was underway.
"An opportunity to go out there and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
Once she was removed the team needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the assurance to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we believe we can do it."
Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this tournament want to hear.
In recent days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this triumph following victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.
It was in the semi-finals they left last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wished she had played with the discomfort.
But while she later admitted those injuries have delayed plans to retire, this tournament is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a global event as captain.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.