The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, targeted by the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their hitters to possess a record if not afforded the possibility.
In the end, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to produce her newest gem.
Then best known as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have come from 10 tries across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not come up short.
If this latest epic knock topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Many contend the case for the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the test that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was far harder to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock came after six matches 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's been a disappointing period because it seemed I lacked timing whatsoever," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your fighting spirit activate and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the batsman was underway.
"A chance to play and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.
By the time she was out Australia needed 66 more at one run per ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the assurance to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if necessary, we are confident we can achieve it."
These statements will be the final thing rival teams at this championship want to hear.
During the last week a belief they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this success following success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wished she had played with the discomfort.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have postponed consideration of ending her career, this championship is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a global event as leader.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.