Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground.
The greatest achievements have already been conquered.
We're talking about the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the record chasers, are all that remain for a side that has accomplished all there is.
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It needed until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's challenging for their batsmen to hold a record if not afforded the possibility.
Finally, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given a chance to produce her most recent brilliance.
Then best known as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her debut and seven global championships have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Certain people claim the argument supporting final game tension. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it's been a disappointing period because it seemed my form was missing completely," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive nature activate and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single came off the opening delivery and after that the batsman was on her way.
"The possibility to take the field and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
When she was removed the team required another 66 at one run per ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the assurance to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."
These statements will be the last rival teams at this tournament want to hear.
During the last week a feeling they will win from any position has only strengthened - this victory succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at an important competition.
So great is her will, she later said she wished she had played through the pain.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have delayed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.
