Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The top summits have already been conquered.
This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a team that has won it all.
- Healy's Century Helps Australia to Historic Pursuit
- ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
- Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers
The fact it required up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It is hard for their hitters to hold a record if not provided the opportunity.
Ultimately, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her debut and seven world titles have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
Whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort is debatable.
Many contend the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's definite is this century was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"For those following me in the nets, it was a frustrating experience because it seemed I've had no rhythm at all," commented Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts kick in and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
A single came off the opening delivery and after that Healy was on her way.
"The possibility to go out there and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was removed her side needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the confidence to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if we do, we are confident we can do it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this championship want to hear.
During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this success following success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
However although she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have pushed back plans to retire, this championship is likely to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a global event as captain.
Victory in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.