The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and once went nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a squad that has achieved everything.
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It needed until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It is hard for their batsmen to hold a record if never given the opportunity.
Ultimately, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her bow and seven world titles have followed 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 "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fail again.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort can be debated.
Certain people claim the case for the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this century was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this performance 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 my form was missing whatsoever," commented Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts kick in and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from that point Healy was underway.
"A chance to play and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was removed her side required another 66 at run per delivery - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the assurance to do that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, if necessary, we believe we can achieve it."
That comment will be the final thing rival teams at this championship want to hear.
During the last week a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this victory coming after win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth 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 - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated through the pain.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have delayed plans to retire, this World Cup is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as captain.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.