Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
We're talking about the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has won it all.
- Healy's Ton Aids Australia to Record Chase
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
- Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers
It needed up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batsmen to hold a record if never given the chance.
Finally, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy getting a platform to create her newest gem.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have resulted from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance 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 stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort can be debated.
Certain people claim the case for championship match pressure. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was much more difficult to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've observed me in training, it was a frustrating experience because it seemed my form was missing whatsoever," said Healy.
"But once you take the field, your competitive instincts activate and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
A single was taken off the opening delivery and after that the right-hander was on her way.
"The possibility to take the field and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.
Once she was dismissed the team required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the assurance to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if we do, we know we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing rival teams at this World Cup want to hear.
In recent days a sense they will win from any position has grown stronger - this triumph succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they exited 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 guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
However although she afterwards confessed those injuries have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this tournament is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as leader.
Victory in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.
