Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have already been conquered.
This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a squad that has achieved everything.
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It needed up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It's challenging for their batsmen to possess a record if not provided the chance.
In the end, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
If this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the case for championship match pressure. Others can counter with the test that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this hundred was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this knock came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in training, it was a frustrating experience because I feel like I lacked timing whatsoever," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your fighting spirit take over and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and after that Healy was underway.
"An opportunity to take the field and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was dismissed her side required another 66 at run per delivery - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the confidence to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, if necessary, we know we can do it."
Those words will be the last competing nations at this championship should hear.
During the last week a feeling they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this victory following win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at one point.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they left last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a significant event.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wished she had played with the discomfort.
But while she afterwards confessed those physical issues have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as skipper.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.