Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the peak baggers, are the only things left for a squad that has won it all.
- Healy's Hundred Helps Australia to Historic Pursuit
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
- Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers
The fact it required as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowlers that have represented Australia over five decades.
It's challenging for their batters to maintain a record if not provided the chance.
Finally, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting a platform to produce her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her debut and seven global championships have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort is debatable.
Some will argue the case for the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was considerably tougher to see coming.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in the nets, it's been a disappointing period because it seemed my form was missing whatsoever," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your fighting spirit activate and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single came off the opening delivery and from there the right-hander was on her way.
"The possibility to play and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
By the time she was dismissed Australia needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the assurance to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if we do, we know we can succeed."
These statements will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup need to hear.
During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this victory coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play 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 in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a significant event.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated through the pain.
However although she later admitted those physical issues have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this championship is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as captain.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.