The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
We're talking about the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the record chasers, are the only things left for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It is hard for their batters to maintain a record if not provided the chance.
Finally, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her newest gem.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her debut and seven international trophies have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not fail again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Some will argue the case for championship match pressure. Others can counter 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 anticipate.
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 failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it's been a frustrating experience because I feel like my form was missing whatsoever," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive instincts take over and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the batsman was underway.
"The possibility to play and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was out Australia needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the belief to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, should it happen, we believe we can do it."
Those words will be the last rival teams at this championship should hear.
During the last week a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this victory following success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.
It was at that stage they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wished she had played with the discomfort.
But while she later admitted those fitness problems have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is expected to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as skipper.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.