Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
We're talking about the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a squad that has won it all.
- Healy's Hundred Aids Australia to Unprecedented Chase
- Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
- Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Leading Bowlers
The fact it required up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's challenging for their batsmen to hold a record if not provided the possibility.
In the end, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to create her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not fail again.
If this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort can be debated.
Some will argue the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's clear is this century was far harder to see coming.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this performance followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in training, it was a challenging time because it seemed I've had no rhythm whatsoever," said Healy.
"But once you step out on the field, your fighting spirit take over and you simply focus on the contest."
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 emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off the opening delivery and from that point Healy was on her way.
"An opportunity to take the field and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself that way, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.
When she was removed Australia needed 66 more at run per delivery - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the assurance to do that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, if we do, we believe we can succeed."
These statements will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this championship should hear.
During the last week a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph coming after victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
But while she later admitted those injuries have pushed back plans to retire, this World Cup is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as leader.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.