Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a team 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 exceeding 300, taking back their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.
It is hard for their batsmen to maintain a record if not afforded the chance.
Finally, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a platform to produce her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have resulted from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
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 title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
Whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Many contend the argument supporting championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's clear is this ton was much more difficult to see coming.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in training, it's been a frustrating experience because it appeared I've had no rhythm completely," stated Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive nature take over and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the right-hander was on her way.
"The possibility to go out there and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was removed the team needed 66 more at one run per ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm happy 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 are confident we can achieve it."
Those words will be the last competing nations at this tournament want to hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will win from any position has become more firm - this victory coming after win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
Yet even as she later admitted those fitness problems have delayed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.
