Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The top summits have long been mastered.
We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the peak baggers, 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 victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It's difficult for their batsmen to hold a record if never given the opportunity.
Ultimately, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to produce her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her debut and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this performance came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've observed me in training, it has been a challenging time because it appeared I've had no rhythm completely," stated Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive nature take over and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her great strength - and a priceless quality in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the batsman was underway.
"The possibility to take the field and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
Once she was dismissed the team required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the belief to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, should it happen, we believe we can achieve it."
That comment will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this championship need to hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will win from any position has become more firm - this triumph succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated through the pain.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have postponed plans to retire, this tournament is expected to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as captain.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.