The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for Australia to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a side that has achieved everything.
- Healy's Hundred Aids Australia to Unprecedented Chase
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
- Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers
The fact it required up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batsmen to hold a record if not afforded the opportunity.
In the end, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to produce her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her bow and seven international trophies have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Many contend the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target 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 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in the nets, it has been a frustrating experience because it seemed my form was missing whatsoever," stated Healy.
"But once you step out on the field, your competitive nature activate and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and after that Healy was underway.
"A chance to play and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
When she was removed her side required another 66 at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the confidence to do that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, if necessary, we believe we can do it."
Those words will be the final thing competing nations at this tournament should hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will win from any position has grown stronger - this triumph following victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
However although she afterwards confessed those physical issues have postponed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper.
Victory in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.