Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the record chasers, are all that remain for a team 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, regaining their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batsmen to hold a record if never given the possibility.
Finally, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to deliver her newest gem.
Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her bow and seven global championships have resulted 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 successful run.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
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. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this hundred was far harder to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in training, it was a challenging time because it appeared I've had no rhythm whatsoever," stated Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive nature activate and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and from that point the batsman was underway.
"The possibility to play and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, somewhat inspired me," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.
By the time she was out Australia needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the assurance to do that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if we do, we believe we can do it."
Those words will be the last Australia's opponents at this World Cup need to hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this success succeeding win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing despite the injury.
But while she afterwards confessed those physical issues have postponed thoughts of retirement, this championship is expected to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as skipper.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.