Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a team that has achieved everything.
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That it took as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It's difficult for their batsmen to possess a record if not afforded the chance.
Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a platform to produce her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her bow and seven world titles have resulted from 10 tries across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
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 fail again.
Whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Many contend 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's clear is this century was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this knock followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in training, it's been a frustrating experience because it seemed my form was missing whatsoever," stated Healy.
"But once you step out on the field, your competitive nature activate and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her key asset - and a priceless quality in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from that point Healy was underway.
"A chance to go out there and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
By the time she was out the team needed 66 more at run per delivery - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the belief to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, should it happen, we are confident we can achieve it."
These statements will be the last Australia's opponents at this World Cup want to hear.
In recent days a feeling they will win from any position has only strengthened - this victory coming after win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have delayed plans to retire, this World Cup is expected to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as skipper.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.