Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a side that has won it all.
- Healy's Century Assists Australia to Record Chase
- ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
- Women's World Cup Table, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers
That it took as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's challenging for their batsmen to possess a record if not afforded the chance.
Finally, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a platform to create her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her debut and seven world titles have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
Whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the case for final game tension. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this hundred was considerably tougher to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this knock followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it was a frustrating experience because it seemed I lacked timing at all," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and after that the batsman was in motion.
"A chance to take the field and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
By the time she was dismissed Australia required another 66 at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the confidence to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if necessary, we are confident we can achieve it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this tournament should hear.
In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this victory succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
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 thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as leader.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.