The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batsmen to possess a record if never given the chance.
Finally, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to produce her most recent brilliance.
Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her debut and seven international trophies have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Many contend the case for championship match pressure. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this ton was far harder to anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this knock was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in training, it has been a frustrating experience because it appeared I've had no rhythm completely," commented Healy.
"But once you step out on the field, your competitive instincts activate and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and after that the batsman was in motion.
"A chance to play and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
By the time she was out her side needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the assurance to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we are confident we can achieve it."
Those words will be the final thing competing nations at this World Cup should hear.
During the last week a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this victory succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a significant event.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she wished she had played with the discomfort.
But while she afterwards confessed those physical issues have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is likely to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as captain.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.