Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for Australia to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has achieved everything.
- Healy's Century Aids Australia to Historic Pursuit
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
- Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers
It needed up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batsmen to possess a record if not provided the chance.
In the end, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to produce her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her bow and seven international trophies have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Many contend the reasoning behind final game tension. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was considerably tougher to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in the nets, it has been a challenging time because it seemed I've had no rhythm whatsoever," stated Healy.
"However when you take the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you completely engage with the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off the opening delivery and from that point Healy was underway.
"An opportunity to take the field and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.
By the time she was dismissed Australia needed 66 more at one run per ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the belief to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, if necessary, we believe we can do it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this World Cup need to hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will win from any position has become more firm - this victory coming after success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she regretted not playing despite the injury.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this championship is likely to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as captain.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.