Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The highest peaks have already been conquered.
We're talking about the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a team that has accomplished all there is.
- Healy's Hundred Aids Australia to Unprecedented Chase
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
- Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers
It needed until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It's challenging for their hitters to maintain a record if not afforded the opportunity.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to produce her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fail again.
The question of whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the case for championship match pressure. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this ton was much more difficult to anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this innings was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've observed me in the nets, it's been a disappointing period because it seemed my form was missing completely," stated Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts kick in and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off the opening delivery and after that the batsman was in motion.
"The possibility to play and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
By the time she was out the team needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the belief to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."
That comment will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this championship need to hear.
During the last week a sense they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this triumph following victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she regretted not playing through the pain.
But while she afterwards confessed those physical issues have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.