The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the record chasers, are all that remain for a squad that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's three-wicket win 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 testament to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's challenging for their batsmen to possess a record if not provided the chance.
Ultimately, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to produce her newest gem.
Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former 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 seen it 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 efforts across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort is debatable.
Certain people claim the case for the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this hundred was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this innings was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"For those following me in training, it has been a frustrating experience because I feel like I lacked timing whatsoever," said Healy.
"However when you step out on the field, your competitive instincts activate and you just lock into the match."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her key asset - and a priceless quality in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the batsman was in motion.
"The possibility to take the field and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
By the time she was dismissed the team needed 66 more at one run per ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm pleased we have the assurance to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, should it happen, we are confident we can achieve it."
Those words will be the final thing competing nations at this championship want to hear.
In recent days a sense they will win from any position has grown stronger - this victory following win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
Such is her determination, she later said she wanted to have participated through the pain.
But while she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have delayed plans to retire, this championship is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as skipper.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.