The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for Australia to set fresh records.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the record chasers, are all that remain for a team that has won it all.
- Healy's Hundred Assists Australia to Unprecedented Chase
- ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
- Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers
The fact it required up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's difficult for their batsmen to possess a record if never given the possibility.
In the end, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her debut and seven world titles have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Some will argue the argument supporting final game tension. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's clear is this century was much more difficult to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in the nets, it's been a disappointing period because I feel like I lacked timing at all," commented Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive nature take over and you completely engage with the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and from there the batsman was in motion.
"The possibility to play and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.
By the time she was dismissed her side needed 66 more at one run per ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the belief to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if we do, we know we can achieve it."
These statements will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this tournament should hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this success coming after win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they left last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have delayed thoughts of retirement, this tournament is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as captain.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.