Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have long been mastered.
We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, 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 over 300, taking back their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batters to possess a record if never given the opportunity.
Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her debut and seven world titles have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
If this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Many contend the argument supporting final game tension. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was considerably tougher to see coming.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this knock followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in training, it's been a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing whatsoever," commented Healy.
"However when you take the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and after that Healy was underway.
"A chance to go out there and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
When she was out Australia required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm pleased we have the confidence to do that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if we do, we believe we can achieve it."
These statements will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this championship need to hear.
During the last week a sense they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this success following win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with 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 were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wished she had played through the pain.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those injuries have postponed thoughts of retirement, this championship is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as skipper.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.
