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 highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
This is the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a side that has achieved everything.
- Healy's Ton Assists Australia to Record Chase
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
- Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers
It needed up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their batters to maintain a record if not afforded the opportunity.
Finally, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving 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 her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her bow and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the case for championship match pressure. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's definite is this ton was far harder to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this innings 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's been a disappointing period because I feel like I've had no rhythm at all," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive nature take over and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the right-hander was on her way.
"A chance to play and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
When she was dismissed her side needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the belief to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if we do, we believe we can achieve it."
That comment will be the final thing rival teams at this tournament want to hear.
In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing despite the injury.
But while she later admitted those fitness problems have postponed plans to retire, this World Cup is likely to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a global event as leader.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.
