The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the record chasers, are all that remain for a side that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their hitters to possess a record if not provided the possibility.
In the end, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to produce her most recent brilliance.
Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her bow and seven international trophies have come from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fail again.
Whether this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Many contend the argument supporting final game tension. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was much more difficult to anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in training, it was a challenging time because it appeared I've had no rhythm completely," stated Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts activate and you just lock into the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her key asset - and a priceless quality in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from there the batsman was in motion.
"An opportunity to go out there and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
By the time she was dismissed Australia needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the belief to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if necessary, we know we can do it."
Those words will be the last Australia's opponents at this championship need to hear.
During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this victory coming after win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she later said she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
Yet even as she later admitted those injuries have delayed plans to retire, this championship is expected to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as captain.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.