Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the record chasers, are what's still available for a squad that has achieved everything.
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That it took as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It's challenging for their batters to maintain a record if not provided the opportunity.
Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to produce her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her debut and seven international trophies have resulted 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 successful run.
That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not come up short.
If this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Certain people claim the argument supporting final game tension. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was far harder to anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've observed me in the nets, it's been a challenging time because it seemed my form was missing completely," said Healy.
"But once you step out on the field, your fighting spirit activate and you completely engage with the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and from that point the right-hander was in motion.
"An opportunity to take the field and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
Once she was dismissed the team required another 66 at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the confidence to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if we do, we are confident we can succeed."
These statements will be the last rival teams at this tournament want to hear.
In recent days a belief they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this triumph succeeding win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.
It was at that stage they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wished she had played through the pain.
However although she afterwards confessed those physical issues have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as captain.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.