Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The top summits have already been conquered.
This is the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and once went over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, are the only things left for a team that has achieved everything.
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That it took up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It is hard for their batters to possess a record if not afforded the opportunity.
Ultimately, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given a platform to produce her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her debut and seven global championships have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," 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 made sure her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort is debatable.
Many contend the case for championship match pressure. Others can counter with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this ton was much more difficult to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this innings was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it's been a disappointing period because it seemed my form was missing at all," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts activate and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her key asset - and a priceless quality in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from that point Healy was in motion.
"A chance to take the field and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.
By the time she was removed the team required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the confidence to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."
Those words will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup should hear.
In recent days a feeling they will win from any position has only strengthened - this success succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.
It was at that stage they left the prior 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 first time at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated through the pain.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have pushed back plans to retire, this World Cup is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as leader.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.