Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for Australia to break new ground.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
We're talking about the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a side that has achieved everything.
- Healy's Century Helps Australia to Record Chase
- ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
- Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers
That it took as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's challenging for their batters to maintain a record if not afforded the chance.
In the end, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to create her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous 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 from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her debut and seven global championships have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not fall short again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Some will argue the case for championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was considerably tougher to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this knock followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in training, it has been a frustrating experience because it seemed I lacked timing completely," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive nature kick in and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her key asset - and a priceless quality in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from that point Healy was in motion.
"An opportunity to play and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
When she was dismissed the team needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the confidence to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can do it."
Those words will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup need to hear.
During the last week a belief they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this victory succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
However although she later admitted those injuries have postponed thoughts of retirement, this championship is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as leader.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.