The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The top summits have already been conquered.
This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, those for the record chasers, are all that remain for a team that has achieved everything.
- Healy's Ton Assists Australia to Historic Pursuit
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
- Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers
It needed up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batters to hold a record if not afforded the chance.
Ultimately, the result of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to produce her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her bow and seven world titles have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
If this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort can be debated.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's clear is this ton was considerably tougher to see coming.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in training, it has been a frustrating experience because it appeared I've had no rhythm whatsoever," stated Healy.
"However when you take the field, your fighting spirit take over and you just lock into the match."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and after that the right-hander was underway.
"The possibility to go out there and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
By the time she was out her side needed 66 more at one run per ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the confidence to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we know we can achieve it."
These statements will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this tournament want to hear.
During the last week a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this triumph succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.
During that phase they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
But while she later admitted those fitness problems have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this tournament is expected to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as captain.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.