Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have already been conquered.
This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the record chasers, are all that remain for a team that has achieved everything.
- Healy's Century Assists Australia to Unprecedented Chase
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
- Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers
That it took until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's difficult for their batters to possess a record if never given the opportunity.
Ultimately, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting a platform to deliver her newest gem.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her bow and seven global championships have followed from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
Whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort is debatable.
Many contend the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this century was much more difficult to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this innings followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"For those following me in the nets, it has been a challenging time because it appeared my form was missing at all," stated Healy.
"But once you step out on the field, your fighting spirit activate and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her great strength - and a priceless quality in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
A single came off the opening delivery and from that point the right-hander was in motion.
"A chance to take the field and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself that way, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
Once she was out Australia required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the belief to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if we do, we believe we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing competing nations at this tournament need to hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this triumph coming after victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they left last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at an important competition.
Such is her determination, she later said she wanted to have participated through the pain.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have delayed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is expected to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as skipper.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.