Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, those for the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a squad that has won it all.
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It needed as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batsmen to possess a record if never given the opportunity.
Finally, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to produce her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her debut and seven international trophies 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 reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the argument supporting championship match pressure. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was much more difficult to anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this performance was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in the nets, it's been a disappointing period because it seemed I've had no rhythm completely," said Healy.
"However when you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and after that Healy was underway.
"A chance to go out there and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was dismissed the team needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the belief to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we believe we can achieve it."
That comment will be the final thing competing nations at this championship want to hear.
During the last week a feeling they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this triumph succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.
It was in the semi-finals they left last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a significant event.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she wished she had played through the pain.
But while she afterwards confessed those injuries have delayed thoughts of retirement, this championship is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as leader.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.