Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The highest peaks have already been conquered.
This is the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a squad that has won it all.
- Healy's Century Helps Australia to Record Chase
- ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
- Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers
That it took up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their hitters to maintain a record if not afforded the chance.
Finally, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her newest gem.
Then best known as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her bow and seven global championships have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Certain people claim the case for championship match pressure. Some might respond with the test that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was considerably tougher to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this innings followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it was a disappointing period because I feel like my form was missing at all," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive nature activate and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from there Healy was in motion.
"A chance to play and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.
When she was out Australia needed 66 more at run per delivery - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I am glad we have the confidence to do that now," added Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if we do, we are confident we can achieve it."
These statements will be the final thing rival teams at this championship need to hear.
In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this success succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.
During that phase they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wished she had played through the pain.
However although she afterwards confessed those injuries have pushed back plans to retire, this World Cup is expected to be her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as skipper.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.
