Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has accomplished all there is.
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It needed up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their batsmen to maintain a record if not provided the opportunity.
Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to produce her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her bow and seven world titles have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI 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 come up short.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort is debatable.
Some will argue the argument supporting final game tension. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was much more difficult to see coming.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this knock came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it's been a challenging time because I feel like I lacked timing at all," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive nature activate and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the batsman was in motion.
"The possibility to play and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
Once she was dismissed her side needed 66 more at one run per ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the belief to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if necessary, we believe we can achieve it."
That comment will be the final thing competing nations at this tournament need to hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this success succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they left last 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 captained her nation for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
However although she later admitted those fitness problems have delayed plans to retire, this championship is expected to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as captain.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.
