Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the record chasers, are the only things left for a side that has achieved everything.
- Healy's Ton Aids Australia to Unprecedented Chase
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
- Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers
That it took as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.
It's difficult for their hitters to maintain a record if not afforded the opportunity.
In the end, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a platform to produce 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 Australia couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her bow and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
Whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Some will argue the reasoning behind final game tension. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was much more difficult to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this performance came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in the nets, it was a frustrating experience because it seemed my form was missing completely," stated Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts kick in and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and after that the right-hander was underway.
"A chance to play and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
By the time she was out the team needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the confidence to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, if we do, we are confident we can do it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this championship should hear.
In recent days a belief they will win from any position has grown stronger - this triumph following success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she later said she regretted not playing despite the injury.
However although she later admitted those physical issues have postponed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is likely to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as leader.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.
