Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
We're talking about the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the peak baggers, are the only things left for a team that has won it all.
- Healy's Century Aids Australia to Unprecedented Chase
- ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Fixtures, Results & Scorecards
- Women's World Cup Table, Leading Batsmen & Leading Bowlers
The fact it required as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batters to hold a record if not afforded the opportunity.
Finally, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a chance to create her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not fail again.
Whether this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display is debatable.
Some will argue the case for the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this ton was considerably tougher to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it's been a challenging time because it appeared my form was missing at all," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts take over and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the right-hander was in motion.
"A chance to take the field and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, somewhat inspired me," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
When she was dismissed Australia required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the belief to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we know we can achieve it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this tournament should hear.
In recent days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this victory succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wished she had played despite the injury.
However although she afterwards confessed those injuries have pushed back plans to retire, this championship is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as captain.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.