The Australian Team Breaks New Ground 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.
We're talking about the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a team that has achieved everything.
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It needed as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batsmen to possess a record if not provided the possibility.
In the end, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy being given a chance to produce her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her bow and seven world titles have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the case for final game tension. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this ton was much more difficult to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this performance was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it was a challenging time because I feel like I lacked timing at all," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your fighting spirit take over and you completely engage with the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off the opening delivery and after that the right-hander was underway.
"A chance to go out there and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was dismissed the team needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the assurance to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if we do, we know we can achieve it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this championship need to hear.
In recent days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this success following victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at a significant event.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those injuries have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as captain.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.
