The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, those for the peak baggers, are what's still available for a team that has achieved everything.
- Healy's Ton Helps Australia to Record Chase
- ICC Women's World Cup 2025 - Matches, Results & Statistics
- Tournament Standings, Top Run-Scorers & Wicket-Takers
The fact it required as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batsmen to possess a record if not afforded the opportunity.
Finally, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to produce her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her bow and seven world titles have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the argument supporting 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 is certain is this century was considerably tougher to see coming.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this knock came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've observed me in training, it has been a challenging time because I feel like I lacked timing completely," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit kick in and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and after that the right-hander was in motion.
"A chance to go out there and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
When she was removed Australia needed 66 more at one run per ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the assurance to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we are confident we can do it."
That comment will be the last Australia's opponents at this World Cup should hear.
During the last week a belief they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this triumph succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they left last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she later said she wanted to have participated through the pain.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have delayed consideration of ending her career, this championship is anticipated as her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as captain.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.