The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for Australia to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have already been conquered.
This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, those for the record chasers, are what's still available for a side that has achieved everything.
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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 over 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their hitters to hold a record if never given the opportunity.
In the end, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to create her newest gem.
Initially recognized as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
If this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort can be debated.
Some will argue the argument supporting championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was far harder to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this performance followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in training, it's been a frustrating experience because it seemed I've had no rhythm whatsoever," stated Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive nature take over and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.
A single came off the opening delivery and from that point Healy was in motion.
"An opportunity to go out there and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
When she was dismissed Australia needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the confidence to do that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if we do, we believe we can succeed."
That comment will be the last Australia's opponents at this championship need to hear.
During the last week a belief they will win from any position has become more firm - this triumph following victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at an important competition.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated through the pain.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is expected to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as skipper.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.
