Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, targeted by the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has achieved everything.
- Healy's Hundred Helps Australia to Unprecedented Chase
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
- Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers
It needed until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's challenging for their batters to hold a record if never given the opportunity.
Finally, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to create her newest gem.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her bow and seven global championships have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fail again.
If this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Some will argue the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was considerably tougher to see coming.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this knock followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it has been a disappointing period because it appeared I've had no rhythm at all," said Healy.
"However when you step out on the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from there the right-hander was underway.
"A chance to play and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
Once she was dismissed the team required another 66 at one run per ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I am glad we have the belief to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if we do, we believe we can do it."
That comment will be the last Australia's opponents at this World Cup should hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this victory following win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she later said she wanted to have participated through the pain.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is expected to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as skipper.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.
