The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The top summits have long been mastered.
This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the record chasers, are what's still available for a squad that has won it all.
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The fact it required up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowlers that have represented Australia over five decades.
It's difficult for their batsmen to possess a record if not provided the chance.
In the end, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her debut and seven world titles have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
If this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the case for championship match pressure. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was much more difficult to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this innings was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it has been a disappointing period because I feel like I lacked timing completely," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit kick in and you just lock into the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the batsman was in motion.
"The possibility to play and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
Once she was out Australia needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the confidence to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we are confident we can do it."
That comment will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup want to hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this triumph succeeding win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have delayed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is expected to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as captain.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.