Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The top summits have already been conquered.
We're talking about the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a squad that has achieved everything.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It is hard for their batters to maintain a record if never given the chance.
Finally, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a chance to deliver her newest gem.
Originally famous as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her debut and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fail again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Some will argue the case for championship match pressure. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was considerably tougher to see coming.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this performance followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it was a challenging time because it seemed I lacked timing at all," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive nature take over and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and from that point the batsman was underway.
"A chance to go out there and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
Once she was out the team needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I am glad we have the belief to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, should it happen, we know we can do it."
These statements will be the final thing rival teams at this tournament need to hear.
In recent days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this victory following win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they left last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a significant event.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
Yet even as she later admitted those physical issues have delayed consideration of ending her career, this championship is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as skipper.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.