The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for Australia to set fresh records.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and once went over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a squad that has accomplished all there is.
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It needed as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their batters to hold a record if never given the chance.
In the end, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a chance to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her bow and seven world titles have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "motivated 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 ensured her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Some will argue the case for the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's clear is this ton was considerably tougher to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this performance came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in training, it's been a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm at all," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and after that Healy was in motion.
"The possibility to play and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun that way, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - 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 dismissed Australia required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the assurance to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if we do, we believe we can do it."
That comment will be the last competing nations at this tournament should hear.
In recent days a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this success coming after success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting 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 in the semi-finals they exited last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing despite the injury.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have postponed thoughts of retirement, this tournament is likely to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as leader.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.