The Australian Team 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 top summits have already been conquered.
We're talking about the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and once went nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the record chasers, are the only things left for a side that has accomplished all there is.
- Healy's Ton Assists Australia to Unprecedented Chase
- ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
- Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers
That it took up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batters to maintain a record if not afforded the chance.
In the end, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to deliver her newest gem.
Originally famous as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her debut and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not come up short.
Whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display is debatable.
Some will argue the case for the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was far harder to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this performance came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in the nets, it has been a frustrating experience because I feel like I've had no rhythm whatsoever," stated Healy.
"However when you take the field, your competitive nature activate and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from there the batsman was underway.
"The possibility to go out there and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.
When she was dismissed Australia needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the assurance to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if we do, we know we can achieve it."
Those words will be the last rival teams at this tournament should hear.
In recent days a feeling they will win from any position has grown stronger - this success coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at an important competition.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wished she had played despite the injury.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this tournament is expected to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as leader.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.