Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
We're talking about the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a team that has won it all.
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The fact it required up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's difficult for their batters to hold a record if not afforded the possibility.
Finally, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a chance to create her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her debut and seven international trophies have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not come up short.
If this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Certain people claim the argument supporting final game tension. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this innings was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it's been a disappointing period because it appeared my form was missing whatsoever," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your fighting spirit activate and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and after that Healy was on her way.
"A chance to go out there and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
When she was removed Australia needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the confidence to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can achieve it."
These statements will be the final thing competing nations at this World Cup want to hear.
During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this triumph following win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they exited last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing through the pain.
Yet even as she later admitted those physical issues have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this championship is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as captain.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.