Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The highest peaks have already been conquered.
This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the record chasers, are the only things left for a team that has won it all.
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The fact it required up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their batters to hold a record if never given the possibility.
Finally, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to produce her newest gem.
Then best known as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
Whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Some will argue the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this performance followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it's been a disappointing period because I feel like my form was missing whatsoever," said Healy.
"However when you step out on the field, your competitive nature take over and you just lock into the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off the opening delivery and from there Healy was on her way.
"A chance to go out there and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was out Australia required another 66 at run per delivery - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the confidence to do that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if we do, we know we can succeed."
That comment will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this World Cup need to hear.
During the last week a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph following success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.
During that phase they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a significant event.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have postponed consideration of ending her career, this championship is likely to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as leader.
Victory in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.
