Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for Australia to set fresh records.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a side that has accomplished all there is.
- Healy's Ton Assists Australia to Record Chase
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
- Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers
It needed up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's difficult for their hitters to hold a record if not provided the chance.
In the end, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not come up short.
Whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort can be debated.
Many contend the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this performance followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in training, it was a challenging time because it seemed my form was missing at all," stated Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit activate and you just lock into the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the right-hander was on her way.
"An opportunity to play and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.
By the time she was dismissed her side required another 66 at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the belief to do that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we are confident we can succeed."
That comment will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this World Cup should hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this success coming after win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at an important competition.
Such is her determination, she later said she wished she had played through the pain.
But while she later admitted those injuries have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this tournament is expected to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as skipper.
Victory in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.