Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are what's still available for a squad that has won it all.
- Healy's Ton Aids Australia to Unprecedented Chase
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
- Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers
That it took up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their batsmen to hold a record if never given the opportunity.
In the end, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her debut and seven global championships have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
The question of whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Many contend the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it's been a frustrating experience because it seemed my form was missing whatsoever," said Healy.
"However when you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from that point Healy was underway.
"An opportunity to play and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
When she was removed her side needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the confidence to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we are confident we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing competing nations at this World Cup should hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this triumph succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wished she had played despite the injury.
But while she afterwards confessed those physical issues have postponed thoughts of retirement, this championship is anticipated as her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as skipper.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.
