Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a side that has achieved everything.
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That it took until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batters to hold a record if never given the possibility.
Ultimately, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to create her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
Whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Many contend the case for championship match pressure. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was far harder to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this innings came after six matches 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 has been a disappointing period because it seemed I lacked timing whatsoever," stated Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit take over and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from that point Healy was on her way.
"A chance to take the field and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
Once she was removed her side needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the assurance to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if we do, we believe we can succeed."
These statements will be the final thing rival teams at this championship want to hear.
In recent days a sense they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this success succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a significant event.
So great is her will, she later said she wished she had played through the pain.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have pushed back plans to retire, this championship is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as captain.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.