The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
We're talking about the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the peak baggers, are all that remain for a squad that has achieved everything.
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It needed up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's challenging for their hitters to possess a record if not provided the possibility.
Ultimately, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to deliver her newest gem.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her debut and seven world titles have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
Whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort is debatable.
Some will argue the case for final game tension. Different voices suggest with the challenge 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 see coming.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it's been a challenging time because it seemed I lacked timing whatsoever," stated Healy.
"But once you step out on 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 succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the right-hander was on her way.
"The possibility to take the field and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
Once she was out the team needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the belief to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if we do, we believe we can succeed."
These statements will be the final thing competing nations at this World Cup should hear.
In recent days a sense they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this triumph coming after success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
So great is her will, she later said she wished she had played with the discomfort.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have postponed thoughts of retirement, this championship is likely to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as skipper.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.