The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are the only things left for a squad that has won it all.
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That it took up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's challenging for their batsmen to maintain a record if not provided the chance.
Finally, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to deliver her newest gem.
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 from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "motivated 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 final and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Certain people claim the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this ton was much more difficult to see coming.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this innings came after six matches 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 frustrating experience because it seemed I've had no rhythm whatsoever," stated Healy.
"However when you step out on the field, your competitive nature kick in and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from that point Healy was underway.
"An opportunity to take the field and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself that way, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
By the time she was out the team needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the confidence to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we believe we can do it."
That comment will be the last rival teams at this World Cup want to hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this triumph succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated through the pain.
Yet even as she later admitted those injuries have postponed plans to retire, this tournament is expected to be her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as captain.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.