Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
This is the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a squad that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have represented Australia over five decades.
It's difficult for their batters to possess a record if never given the opportunity.
In the end, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have followed from 10 efforts across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fail again.
If this latest epic knock topped that previous effort can be debated.
Some will argue the argument supporting final game tension. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's definite is this ton was far harder to see coming.
The Christchurch destruction 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 failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in training, it's been a challenging time because it seemed my form was missing at all," stated Healy.
"However when you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the batsman was underway.
"The possibility to go out there and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
By the time she was out the team required another 66 at run per delivery - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the belief to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if we do, we are confident we can achieve it."
That comment will be the final thing rival teams at this championship want to hear.
Over the past five days a sense 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 match against traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they left last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a significant event.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
Yet even as she later admitted those fitness problems have postponed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is likely to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.