The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
We're talking about the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the record chasers, are the only things left for a side that has achieved everything.
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It needed until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batters to hold a record if never given the possibility.
In the end, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her debut and seven world titles have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Certain people claim the case for the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's definite is this century was considerably tougher to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in training, it was a challenging time because it appeared I've had no rhythm at all," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit kick in and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and after that Healy was on her way.
"A chance to take the field and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
When she was removed her side needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the belief to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if we do, we are confident we can do it."
Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this championship need to hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will win from any position has only strengthened - this victory coming after win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a significant event.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wished she had played with the discomfort.
But while she afterwards confessed those physical issues have postponed plans to retire, this championship is likely to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as captain.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.