Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have already been conquered.
This is the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a squad that has won it all.
- Healy's Century Helps Australia to Unprecedented Chase
- ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
- Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers
The fact it required as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It is hard for their hitters to hold a record if never given the possibility.
Ultimately, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to create her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her debut and seven world titles have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Some will argue the case for championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this hundred was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance 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 practice sessions, it's been a frustrating experience because I feel like my form was missing completely," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive nature activate and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and after that the right-hander was on her way.
"A chance to go out there and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, somewhat inspired me," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.
Once she was removed the team required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the belief to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if necessary, we are confident we can succeed."
These statements will be the last Australia's opponents at this World Cup should hear.
During the last week a feeling they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this victory following victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage 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 captained her nation for the initial instance at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wished she had played through the pain.
Yet even as she later admitted those fitness problems have pushed back plans to retire, this championship is likely to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a global event as captain.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.