The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for Australia to break new ground.
The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and once went nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, targeted by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a side that has achieved everything.
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It needed as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's difficult for their batsmen to maintain a record if never given the possibility.
In the end, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to produce her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her bow and seven international trophies have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the next 50-over 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 fail again.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Some will argue the case for championship match pressure. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was far harder to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it was a disappointing period because I feel like my form was missing at all," commented Healy.
"But once you take the field, your competitive instincts take over and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off the opening delivery and from that point the right-hander was on her way.
"The possibility to take the field and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
Once she was out Australia required another 66 at one run per ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the belief to do that now," added Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, should it happen, we know we can achieve it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this tournament should hear.
In recent days a belief they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this victory succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they left last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she regretted not playing despite the injury.
Yet even as she later admitted those injuries have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as captain.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.