Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The top summits have long been mastered.
We're talking about the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the record chasers, are what's still available for a squad that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's difficult for their hitters to maintain a record if never given the chance.
In the end, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to produce her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her bow and seven global championships have come from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped 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 final and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not come up short.
If this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Some might respond with the difficulty 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 see coming.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, 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 observed me in practice sessions, it was a challenging time because it appeared my form was missing at all," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your fighting spirit activate and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from there Healy was underway.
"An opportunity to play and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself that way, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
Once she was out her side needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the belief to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, if we do, we believe we can achieve it."
These statements will be the final thing rival teams at this tournament should hear.
In recent days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this victory succeeding win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals 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 were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wished she had played despite the injury.
But while she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have delayed plans to retire, this tournament is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as captain.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.