The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The highest peaks have already been conquered.
This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a squad that has achieved everything.
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That it took until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their batters to hold a record if not provided the chance.
In the end, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to deliver her newest gem.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her debut and seven global championships have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not come up short.
Whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort can be debated.
Some will argue the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was much more difficult to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this performance followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in the nets, it's been a disappointing period because it appeared I've had no rhythm completely," said Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive nature take over and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her great strength - and a priceless quality in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and after that Healy was underway.
"An opportunity to go out there and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
By the time she was removed the team needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the belief to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, should it happen, we believe we can achieve it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this World Cup want to hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this victory coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at an important competition.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wished she had played despite the injury.
But while she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have postponed plans to retire, this tournament is likely to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as captain.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.