Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have long been mastered.
We're talking about the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, those for the peak baggers, are what's still available for a team that has achieved everything.
- Healy's Hundred Helps Australia to Unprecedented Chase
- ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
- Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers
The fact it required until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batters to possess a record if not provided the possibility.
In the end, the result of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to deliver her newest gem.
Originally famous as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her debut and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not fall short again.
Whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Some will argue the reasoning behind final game tension. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was considerably tougher to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this knock was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in training, it has been a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing whatsoever," commented Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts take over and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from there Healy was in motion.
"The possibility to go out there and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
When she was out the team required another 66 at one run per ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the assurance to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, if we do, we are confident we can succeed."
Those words will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup want to hear.
In recent days a sense they will win from any position has only strengthened - this success succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.
It was at that stage they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
However although she later admitted those injuries have delayed plans to retire, this tournament is likely to be her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as skipper.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.