The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the peak baggers, are the only things left for a side that has accomplished all there is.
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It needed as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their hitters to possess a record if never given the chance.
Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Then best known as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year 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 come from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not come up short.
Whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort can be debated.
Certain people claim the argument supporting final game tension. Some might respond with the test that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this century was considerably tougher to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this performance was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it's been a disappointing period because I feel like I've had no rhythm completely," stated Healy.
"However when you take the field, your fighting spirit take over and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the batsman was on her way.
"The possibility to go out there and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
Once she was removed the team needed 66 more at run per delivery - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the belief to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, should it happen, we are confident we can achieve it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this tournament need to hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will win from any position has become more firm - this triumph coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated through the pain.
Yet even as she later admitted those physical issues have delayed plans to retire, this championship is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as leader.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.