The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The top summits have long been mastered.
This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, are what's still available for a squad that has won it all.
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That it took until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over five decades.
It is hard for their hitters to maintain a record if not provided the possibility.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a platform to create her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her debut and seven international trophies have come from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
If this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this century was much more difficult to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this knock followed six innings 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 it seemed I lacked timing completely," stated Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts activate and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from there the right-hander was in motion.
"An opportunity to take the field and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
By the time she was removed Australia needed 66 more at run per delivery - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the belief to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we are confident we can do it."
These statements will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this championship need to hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph following success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face 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 exited last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
Such is her determination, she later said she wished she had played through the pain.
Yet even as she later admitted those injuries have delayed thoughts of retirement, this championship is likely to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as leader.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.