The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the achievement hunters, 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 three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batters to hold a record if not afforded the possibility.
In the end, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to produce her most recent brilliance.
Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her debut and seven global championships have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
Whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Many contend the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was considerably tougher to see coming.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this performance came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it has been a disappointing period because I feel like I lacked timing whatsoever," commented Healy.
"But once you step out on the field, your competitive nature kick in and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from that point Healy was underway.
"An opportunity to go out there and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself that way, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
When she was out Australia needed 66 more at run per delivery - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm pleased we have the belief to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if we do, we know we can succeed."
That comment will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this World Cup should hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this victory coming after win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wished she had played with the discomfort.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have delayed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as leader.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.