Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, those for the record chasers, are all that remain for a team that has won it all.
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That it took as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It is hard for their hitters to hold a record if never given the opportunity.
Ultimately, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to produce her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
If this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Many contend the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was considerably tougher to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this innings came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it's been a frustrating experience because it seemed I lacked timing at all," stated Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive nature take over and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the right-hander was on her way.
"An opportunity to take the field and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
Once she was removed Australia needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the assurance to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."
Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this tournament want to hear.
During the last week a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this success following win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.
It was at that stage they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at an important competition.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing despite the injury.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.