The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are all that remain for a team that has won it all.
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That it took as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batsmen to maintain a record if not afforded the opportunity.
In the end, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given a platform to produce her newest gem.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
Whether this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Certain people claim the argument supporting final game tension. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this ton was far harder to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this innings followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in training, it's been a disappointing period because I feel like my form was missing completely," stated Healy.
"But once you step out on the field, your fighting spirit take over and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and after that the batsman was underway.
"A chance to take the field and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.
By the time she was out the team required another 66 at one run per ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm happy we have the belief to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if we do, we are confident we can succeed."
These statements will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this tournament want to hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will win from any position has only strengthened - this victory coming after win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.
It was at that stage they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
However although she later admitted those injuries have delayed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as captain.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.