The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and once went over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are the only things left for a side that has won it all.
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The fact it required up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batters to hold a record if never given the possibility.
Finally, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fail again.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Many contend the argument supporting championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's clear is this ton was far harder to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this performance came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it has been a challenging time because I feel like I lacked timing completely," said Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive nature take over and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the right-hander was in motion.
"A chance to play and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was removed Australia required another 66 at run per delivery - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the belief to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we are confident we can do it."
These statements will be the final thing competing nations at this World Cup need to hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will win from any position has become more firm - this victory coming after success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.
It was at that stage they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
But while she later admitted those injuries have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is likely to be her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as captain.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.